WARNING: This fanfiction contains graphic depictions of eating disorders; mentions of anorexia and bulimia. If you are recovering from or dealing with an eating disorder, this fanfiction may be triggering. Please be warned and read at your own risk. Thank you.

Control

"Is she okay?" Emma asked as she saw Doctor Whale approach, a look of confusion and worry etched on his features. He motioned for her to walk with him a little ways away, glancing cautiously at Henry. Emma gave Henry a look, silently telling him to stay put and not move from his seat.

"Come on Doc, what's going on? You're starting to freak me out a bit," Emma sighed as she crossed her arms over her chest.

"Sheriff Swan, firstly, Mayor Mills has no emergency contact and usually this wouldn't be allowed. However, considering you are Sheriff and the person who found her I can make an exception because of the seriousness of the situation," Doctor Whale said, looking wholly uncomfortable with what he was doing.

"Seriousness? She hasn't got cancer or something has she?" Emma squeaked, horrified at the thought.

"No, no Sheriff Swan."

"Then what was with the blood?"

"Mayor Mills has Boerhaave Syndrome or as it's more commonly called an oesophageal rupture. Basically, she has a tear in her throat. "

"How the hell can someone tear their throat?" Emma asked looking quite confused. She couldn't quite connect everything she'd been told yet.

"A lot of strain must be put on ones oesophagus for it to tear. It's something one would usually see in the sufferer of an eating disorder," Doctor Whale explained, keeping his voice low.

"Are you saying Regina has an eating disorder?" Emma whispered eyes wide in disbelief.

"I'm saying that that's where the evidence points. She is malnourished and I would bet any money she is underweight. There is also scarring in her throat indicating extensive and long term abuse."

Emma stood in shock at what she was being told. She couldn't imagine the vicious Mayor ever causing herself harm like that. Thinking about it however, it did make sense with what Henry had told her of the Mayors recent behaviours.

"I thought only teenage girl did that Doc," Emma said confused.

"It is common with teenagers but this sort of illness can last well in to adulthood. In this case I think this may have been something Mayor Mills struggled with since adolescence," Doctor Whale explained, sighing as he glanced back at the Mayors room.

"So what you're saying is that, she's been throwing up...purging so much that she's torn her throat? That's ridiculous!" Emma exclaimed, still in disbelief. Glancing over to Henry who had a worried look on his young face, a horrifying thought struck her.

"What am I meant to tell Henry? I can't very well tell him that his mothers deliberately made herself sick like this!"

"Calm down Sheriff Swan. Mayor Mills has refused anything further than repairing her oesophagus. We don't know for certain that, that's what's going on. I've scheduled her into surgery in an hour and a half and then we'll keep her in for the next 48. We have to monitor this type of injury closely," Dr. Whale explained.

"Wait surgery? The next 48 hours? Can't you just stitch her throat back up?" Emma asked confused.

"An injury of this sort is rather dangerous. Even with surgery and treatment there's a 25% mortality rate if it's treated within the first 24 hours," Dr. Whale explained with a sigh.

Emma sighed, running a hand through her blonde tresses as she looked back over at Henry. She had no idea what she was going to say to him, especially because she couldn't really tell him his mother could die. Turning back to Dr. Whale Emma saw the seriousness of the situation in his face and couldn't help but wonder just how Regina had got herself into this mess.

"Look Doc, you just do what you need to for Regina to get better. I need to take the kid home but call me if anything happens," Emma said, knowing there was nothing she could do now.

Doctor Whale nodded and quickly walked away, leaving Emma to regroup for a moment before having to go over to Henry. Taking a deep breath the blonde turned back towards her son and smiled slightly, hoping he'd be comforted by the action somewhat. Walking over to him she could see he was watching her carefully, looking for any signs that something was really wrong.

"Is she okay?" He asked, as Emma came to a stop before him, worried for his adoptive mother.

"She'll be alright kid. Doctor Whale said she'll have to stay here for a few days till she's better but she'll be back home and ordering you around again in no time," Emma told him trying to sound upbeat despite Henry's continued frown.

AN: Alright, so this is an edited and re-written version of chapter six. I wasn't completely happy with the first version and I did a bit more research and decided this would be a better chapter.

Anyway, review again if you'd like but it isn't necessary. Chapter 7 should be up within the week hopefully but don't hold me to that. :) LT.