17

Author's note: Okay, so I warned everybody that I was a slow writer. But this is an extra long chapter, so I hope you enjoy.

Please, let me know what you think.

Chapter 7

To say that Emma was skeptical, was the understatement of the year. But she made a promise to Graham and more than that she was the only representative of law enforcement right now, so she had to go after a statement about a murder even if the truth of that statement was highly questionable.

Graham drew a map of where he professedly buried the body, so when Emma went back to the station she picked up one of the tourist maps and identified the place on that too. She was still quite new to this, so she also took out the station's investigation procedure handbook and checked the main steps and rules about crime scenes and following procedure. She needed witnesses to accompany her and she also needed some help to dig.

She called the town's only mortician and the owner promised to send over two of his people with proper equipment. Next she walked over to Archie's office and to her luck the psychologist was there, alone.

"I need another favor" Emma started after greeting the man.

"Is it about Graham?"

"Yes and no. He told me that he killed someone."

Archie's inviting smile vanished, his eyebrows rose and his mouth opened in a silent 'oh'.

"And do you believe him?" he asked.

"No, but I have to investigate. He explained in great detail where he buried the body. As I'm the only officer in town I will need witnesses at the supposed crime scene. Would you agree to come with me?"

"I have no more clients for today, so yes, of course."

"Thank you. I need to call Doctor Whale too, but could you meet me at the station in half an hour?"

"Yes, I'll be there."

Back at the station, Emma called Whale, who was also the town's coroner. The doctor didn't sound too eager but promised to come as soon as possible. While waiting for the men to arrive, Emma collected everything she would need in the unexpected case they really found something.

The two employees of the mortician came in their own pick-up, while Whale and Archie joined Emma in the patrol car. They found the place easily enough and as Graham said that a rock marked the grave, they also knew where to start digging.

The two men were obviously professionals. They worked quickly and they didn't need to dig too deep, either. Only twenty minutes later one of the man shouted out that they found something, and the other one actually jumped out of the hole, looking pale and frightened.

Emma stepped closer and looked into the hole. She heard Archie gasp behind her.

It didn't need an expert to identify what the men found. It was definitely a human body, or a skeleton in clothes, really. It looked decades old. The first thing that came to Emma's mind that Graham couldn't kill this man, the body was too old for that. Still, she was so sure that they would find nothing at all. What the hell could be the explanation for this?

Emma rubbed her hand over her mouth in a nervous gesture.

"Hey, Doc." She turned to Whale who was watching the human remains with a sour expression. "How old do you think that body is?" Emma asked.

"Well, I would have to examine it further, but seeing the stage of decay, I would say twenty-five-thirty years, at least."

Emma had the same guess. She waved the two workers away from the hole then went to the patrol car. She needed to secure the scene. Look for evidence, collect everything, make photos. She needed to remember the procedure correctly.

"Doctor, I'd like you to call the hospital. They should send out a van to transport the body. I'd also like you to go with them and examine the remains. I need a time and cause of death, as soon as possible."

Whale looked a bit petulant at being ordered around but did as he was told. Emma took the camera from the car and she started to take photos of the body. Archie stepped to her side.

"Graham couldn't have killed this man" he said quietly. "That body is way too old."

"Yes, I know."

"But then how did he know where the body was?" Archie asked the same question that Emma couldn't get out of her head. "If he knew about it why didn't he start an investigation? Does he know who did it?"

Those were valid questions of course but all these made Emma's heart heavier by the minute.

"I don't know" she sighed. "But I guess after we had finished here, we need to ask Graham about that."

ooo

The medicine he was forced to take made Graham even more anxious but on the other hand it also made him too woozy to act on his nerves. So, he was sitting in the dark space between the bed and the wall, his knees pulled to his chest, his eyes closed, because when he opened them he felt dizzy and saw flashes of bright lights that made his eyes burn. He felt like his insides were trembling and he felt queasy. He had no idea what antipsychotics could cause in someone who wasn't psychotic but he guessed nothing good, so it wasn't that much of a wonder that he felt like crap. At least, he was left alone. Not counting his thoughts and the memories.

He must have gone crazy for doing this, he thought. On the other hand, for the first time in months he felt like himself. He felt almost well.

It all started when he escorted the Queen to King George's castle. She negotiated for a prisoner - not to free him, but to have him for herself - and the King agreed. As far as the Huntsman understood, the prisoner was Prince James, King George's own son, who was about to be executed because he fell in love with the wrong girl. On their way home - from the heated conversation between the prisoner and Queen Regina - he also found out that the girl the Prince fell in love with was none other than Snow White.

When they arrived back at the castle, he was ordered to take the Prince to a cell in the dungeons and guard him, and he did. He listened as the man struggled to get out but there was no way he could escape the cell, enforced with the Queen's magic. He also listened to the quiet words of love and devotion and that woke something in him.

Lately, his feelings - his hate for the Queen, his disgust with himself, his guilt over what he was doing on a day-to-day basis under Her orders, his longing for the forest and for his freedom and everything else - got dimmer and dimmer. Sometimes he thought that he wasn't feeling anything at all, that he only had the memories of feelings, somewhere in the back of his mind. He was becoming the Queen's puppet and nothing else. He was truly getting broken in.

But seeing the Prince, remembering Snow White, made his old compassions appear again. That night he decided that he would do everything to help the Prince get back to his love.

The plan was simple enough, the execution not so much. He was trusted by the Queen now, more or less. He spent a lot of time at her side and he was often sent to distribute her orders to others. He was there when the Queen decided to go and meet Snow White and he knew that he had to act. He went to the Captain of the dungeons and told him that the Queen ordered the execution of the prisoner, but Her Majesty wanted to do it privately in the inner courtyard. The Captain sent two guard to take the Prince.

He knew that he needed to kill both the Captain and the guards involved, if he didn't want the Queen to find out that he helped in the escape. That was the part of the plan he contemplated for the longest time. The Captain wouldn't be mourned by anyone, he was a cruel bastard who probably deserved a thousand deaths. Most of the guards were the same, Her Majesty chose them for the reason that they had no conscience, no calms about hurting or killing people. But the Huntsman liked to think that he wasn't like them. He only killed when he had no other choice, only in self-defense or in the defense of others. He needed to give time the Prince to get away and honestly, he needed to save himself from the wrath of the Queen.

In the end, he killed the Captain and one of the guards. The other guard was killed by the Prince. The Huntsman gave the Prince a sword and provisions and showed him the way out, then went and got rid of the bodies, throwing them into the ravine on the north-side of the castle.

Then he waited for the Queen to arrive. She was in a good mood and that was promising not much good for the fate of Snow White. The Huntsman knew the essentials of Regina's plan, so he suspected that she managed to put Snow White under the sleeping curse. That would be permanent if not broken by her true love and Snow White's true love - as far as Regina knew it - was rotting in her dungeon.

As soon as she arrived, she sent the Huntsman to bring the Prince to her. He went knowing full well what he would find, then came back with the news that the prisoner escaped. That was how long Her Majesty's good mood lasted. Soon, he found himself pinned to the stone wall by her magic. He made an attempt to convince her to send him after the Prince - he would be able to stall Regina, or maybe even help the Prince find Snow White - but his offer was shot down. Regina simply used one of her magical mirrors and sent the Prince into the Infinite Forest.

The Huntsman tried not to show any emotion at that. The Infinite Forest was a death-trap but it was not absolutely impossible to escape it. There was still some hope for the Prince and Snow White. He did everything he could, now it was up to the Prince and he had to worry about himself.

Regina turned her full attention on him and there was some suspicion in her eyes.

"How could he escape? Can you explain that?"

"The Captain of the prison is gone and so are two of the guards. I found some blood on one of the corridors-"

The magical force let him go for a second, just to slam him back into the wall with more force. His head banged against the stone and he saw stars.

"There's no way he could get out of the cell without help!" she declared. "Mirror!"

The mirror changed, first the fog appeared, then the face of the Queen's chief advisor came into focus.

"Your Majesty." the man bowed. "How can I be of service?"

"Show me how the Prince got out of the cell!"

There were mirrors all over the castle that were the eyes and ears of the Queen, through the magical creature that used to be a djinn. The Huntsman made sure to stay out of their range the whole day. It was shown now how the two guards went for the Prince, telling him that he would be executed.

The Queen was watching the Huntsman with even more suspicion after she saw that.

"Why did they think that?"

"I don't know Your Majesty." the Huntsman said, looking her straight in the eyes.

"And where have you been during all this?"

"I was on the roof-"

The magical power pulled at him and slammed him back again. He thought, he heard something crack.

"Mirror! Can you show me where the Huntsman has spent his time today?"

The Man in the Mirror actually smiled at the Huntsman with gloat.

"I haven't seen him all day. He was staying away from all mirrors. I can think of no one else in the castle who would help the Prince, Your Majesty."

"Yes, you are right." She stepped close to the Huntsman and grabbed his chin.

"Have you helped the Prince in his escape?"

"No, Your Majesty" he said as earnestly as he was capable of. "I was on the roof the whole day."

Her grip tightened for a second then she let go and so did the magical force. The Queen turned away and paced up and down in the room.

"It doesn't matter much. Prince James would never get out of the Infinite Forest and Snow White will suffer under my curse till eternity."

She stopped and looked at the Huntsman again.

"Still, I can't let this go. I'm sorry, my dear pet, but I don't believe you. I think you had something to do with this. It seems that I've neglected your training lately and you are falling back into bad habits."

The Huntsman tried to keep up a calm exterior through her speech. There was no use in begging or denying. He just hoped that - as there was no real evidence against him -, his punishment would not go over Her Majesty's usual games.

"Put down your weapons!"

He unbuckled his sword belt and put it down. His three concealed knives followed it in a neat pile on the floor.

"That's all?"

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"Now, undress. You can keep your pants on."

When he was standing there barefoot and naked from the waist up, she shouted for guards. She waved and shackles appeared around the Huntsman's wrists and ankles.

"Take him to the courtyard and chain him there. Untamed animals don't belong into the castle." She ordered the two guards who came in.

The guards grabbed the Huntsman's arms roughly and pushed and pulled him violently, though he was showing no resistance. Winter was upon them and even the corridors were freezing cold, he could only imagine how much worse it would be outside in the courtyard.

When they stepped outside, he actually had to stop because the cold hit him so hard. The guards though propelled him forward, slamming him into the wooden base of the gallows. He fell into it head first and soon blood was falling into his eyes.

"Move!' One of the man growled at him and he was pulled to the feet again. He was dragged some more, and then he was chained up to one of the stocks. The position left him totally unprotected from the wind and the descending snow.

There was not much to do. He pulled his knees to the chest, and curled into the smallest ball he could manage, his chains rattling ominously...

Graham didn't know how much time passed before his door opened again. He has dozed off a bit, reliving his old memories. He woke with a start when someone came in the room. He felt a bit more like himself and he staggered to his feet.

Doctor Skinner came in and for the first time he looked somewhat disturbed.

"You have a visitor" he said. "The Madame Mayor would like to talk to you."

He barely finished the sentence when Regina stepped inside. His memories still vivid, Graham instinctively tried to step back but the wall was behind him.

"I don't want to talk to you." he said. Regina just smiled at him like someone would smile at a child saying he didn't want to go to school. She always got what she wanted.

"I don't want to talk to her" he repeated, looking at Skinner this time.

"I'll leave you alone" the doctor said as if he hadn't even heard what Graham said. Skinner left and closed the door, in Graham's mind the clicking of the lock sounded as ominous as the chains binding him in his memory did.

ooo

Regina chose the day for visiting Graham very carefully. She could have used the security door as she knew the code for that but right now she wanted audience, so she walked in through the front door and went to the reception. Of course she called ahead, so Skinner was already waiting for her there. The provident mayor was worrying about the ailing sheriff of the town. She also wanted to see in what condition Graham was really in, but more than anything she wanted to make sure that the trial the day after would go as she wanted it to.

"Miss Mills" Skinner greeted her in his usual suave way, though he looked a bit uneasy. "I'm sorry, but I don't think it's a good idea for you to see Mr. Humbert right now. You have a main role in his delusions-"

"And that's one reason I need to talk to him. Alone."

"I really don't think-"

"You can wait outside, if that makes you feel better. Or you can leave an orderly outside."

"I..." Regina just looked at him and the doctor shut up. "Come this way." He said.

When she stepped into the room, Graham was standing in one corner, his back against the wall and he looked pathetic. He was disheveled, looking at her with wild eyes, trembling slightly. She almost forgot how much she liked it when he was vulnerable.

She just stood and observed the man without a word. She waited until he started to fidget and then he asked:

"What do you want from me?"

"I just wanted to see how you were. I wanted to see that you were treated as needed."

"Don't bullshit me. I told you that I remembered everything. Your Majesty."

Regina truly smiled at him this time.

"You are right. It's actually quite liberating that we don't need to play the usual games." She took a few steps closer to Graham, who visibly flinched and practically plastered himself against the wall.

"So, what do you want from me?" he asked trying not to sound scared but Regina saw right through him.

"I want to make sure you still know your place."

"You can't control me anymore. You don't have your magic. I will prove who you are." Graham seemed determined and unsure at the same time.

"No, you won't."

She stepped even closer, into touching distance and put her hand on his chest, caressing lightly. Graham tensed up even more and tried to pull away but there was nowhere for him to go. Her hand slithered under his T-shirt and she stroked his tight abs.

"Don't touch me..." he whispered brokenly.

"You are so wrong, my dear. I might not have my full magical power here but I still owe you. I have your heart, I can force you to do anything. I could force you to kill your deputy if I wanted." Her hand moved lower, sneaking under the loose hospital pants Graham was wearing. She could feel as the man's whole body started to tremble. She didn't take her eyes from his face, so she saw that he squeezed his eyes shut for a second but forced them open quickly, not wanting to look weak.

"I won't let you hurt her..." his voice was like the growling of a wolf. But he was her wolf. That Swan woman had no chance against her.

"Oh, silly Graham, you won't have much choice in that. I'll show you that even without magic, even without using your heart, I have all the power here."

She let go of him, stepped back a bit and with full force she slapped herself on the left cheek. Graham gasped at the sudden action and moved forward instinctively. She raised her arm to hit herself again and Graham did what she expected him to do. He grabbed her arm. At that Regina let out the most scared scream she could manage.

The door burst open immediately and an orderly stormed inside. Without hesitation the orderly pulled Graham away from Regina and unceremoniously slammed him against the wall. Graham fought back. That was another instinct Regina was counting on. The man was in reality a wild animal after all. The orderly shouted for help, before Graham's elbow contacted with his nose. Blood squirted onto the wall, but already two others rushed inside. Regina stepped into the opposite corner and watched the scene unfold.

Graham fought them hard, despite the fact that his movements were more uncoordinated than Regina has ever seen him. He was clearly heavily medicated. The orderlies were three against one and after some struggling they managed to floor Graham. By that time, Skinner joined them with a syringe and while the orderlies kept the patient immobile he emptied it in Graham's thigh. He still managed to raise his head and looked at Regina. She smiled at him sweetly as his eyes went hazy and his whole body limp.

"Put him on the bed" Skinner ordered. "And put on the restraints." Then she turned to Regina who was still watching as Graham, barely aware now, was strapped to the bed.

"I told you this was a bad idea." Skinner said and Regina managed to school her expression to partly scared, partly worried. "But at least it was proved to me that he's dangerous to others and to himself."

"I'm sorry. I will stay away until you say otherwise."

Regina could say that honestly now. She was sure that she made her point. She threw one last glance at Graham's slack body and then left.

ooo

Taking care of the crime scene took a very long time. Archie helped as much as he could, but he was a civilian. When the body was taken away, every evidence was bagged and secured in the car and it was getting too dark to see, Emma drove them both to the hospital. She needed to talk to Graham again and she guessed it was best if she had a witness with her for this too.

Emma stomped up to the reception.

"I need to talk to the sheriff." She said briskly to the nurse in charge.

"I don't think that will be possible." The woman answered.

"This isn't a social visit. I'm here because of a police investigation."

"I'm paging Doctor Skinner." The nurse said.

The doctor arrived in a few moments, looking worriedly at them.

"You can't talk to Graham right now." He said without preamble.

"There's a crime we need to talk about with him."

Skinner sighed.

"I don't want to be difficult. See for yourself."

He led Emma and Archie to Graham's door and let them in.

"There was an incident earlier today."

The bed was pulled away from the wall somewhat and Graham was lying on it, both his wrists and ankles were strapped to the bed tightly with leather straps.

"What incident?"

Archie asked. Emma was happy he did, because she couldn't have spoken right now. Graham wasn't totally unconscious. His eyes moved sluggishly when they stepped inside but there was no recognition in them. His mouth was moving with silent words, and he was pulling at the restraints weakly.

"He attacked a visitor." Skinner answered Archie's question.

"Who?" Emma asked in a hoarse voice.

"Miss Mills."

"You let Regina in here?" Emma couldn't stop herself from raising her voice but regretted it when Graham jerked on the bed. She wasn't a professional, but Graham thought that Regina did this to him. He clearly said so. How could his psychiatrist let that person in for visit? Skinner looked guilt-stricken at her outburst and that was at least something. "Wasn't that a bit unprofessional?" she asked through gritted teeth.

"She's the mayor-"

"And Graham is your patient!" Emma cut in.

Archie's hand on her shoulder stopped her from continuing.

"You are upsetting Graham. We should take this outside." The psychologist said and Emma looked at the bed to see that Graham's eyes were on them, still hazy, but also painful and somewhat scared, he was also pulling at the restraints more strongly.

"You are right, I'm sorry."

Before they left, Skinner checked Graham's pulse and the restraints. Outside he started to explain himself as soon as the door was closed.

"He was much better today, the medication was working and the mayor... she can be quite insistent..."

"Forget it." Emma didn't want to argue with the man, there was no reason in that. The only person she really wanted to shout at right now, was Regina. "When do you think we can talk to him?"

"In twenty-four hours, maybe. Call me beforehand."

"Okay." She left the doctor with hurried steps.

Archie joined her a few moments later.

"Are you all right?"

"Yes." She realized quite frightened that she had tears in her eyes and a lump in her throat, so the word came out choked.

She burst out the hospital's exit and took a few deep breaths. Archie put a hand on her shoulder, again.

"I know he looked terrible, but Skinner said that before Regina's visit he was reacting to the medication. That's good news."

"I can't see much good in this whole situation." She pulled herself together - she would not cry. "Let's go, I'll take you back to the centre."

Emma was thankful that Archie didn't want to talk on the ride back, because she needed to collect her thoughts. She needed a plan. She might be new at the law enforcement but she certainly wasn't new to investigations. But before she could begin to think about the investigation, she needed to get over this crazy emotional turmoil she was in. Seeing Graham sedated, obviously in pain and scared disturbed her more deeply than she has ever thought possible. She felt like she was close to breaking down and she was sure if she talked her voice would tremble.

It was an unfortunate coincidence that when they stopped in front of the station, Regina Mills was walking by on the other side of the street. Emma saw her and her hands tightened on the wheel. Then she tore the car door open and jumped out. She heard Archie calling after her but she didn't listen.

Emma strode over the street and cut off Regina's steps.

"What the hell were you thinking?"

She was right to think that her voice would tremble, but it was also loud enough to make the other people walking by stop and stare.

"I don't like that tone, Deputy!" Regina said, regally.

"You don't like my tone? I don't like you messing with Graham!"

"I don't know what you are talking about."

Regina tried to sidestep Emma but she didn't let her.

"Don't go near him ever again." Emma said.

"Or what? Are you going to hit me? Again?" Regina was smiling condescendingly.

Emma realized that townspeople were still watching and listening.

"I'm going to protect him." She said, forcing herself to talk calmer and quieter. They were standing face to face, now, their noses close to touching.

"You know, he said the same thing about you. Maybe he's not the only one who's delusional. You both seem to be mistaken about who you need fighting against." Regina spoke quietly too and there was something dangerous in her tone. But then she continued louder. "I'm Graham's friend, Deputy and I'm going to visit him again, because I want to make sure that he's okay. Even if that makes you jealous, I've had him first."

"He's a human being, not something to have!" Emma growled. Regina just smiled again and started to walk away. Emma would have followed her still, if it weren't for a gentle hand on her back.

"Don't do anything you will regret later." It was Mary-Margaret and her voice calmed Emma down a bit. For some reason it always did, maybe because her roommate herself was so extremely calm and nice all time. She took a deep breath.

"You are right. She's not worth it."

"Come, let's go home." Mary-Margaret said, still keeping her reassuring hand on Emma's back.

"I can't go home yet. I need to take care of a few things at the station." She strode forward and the people who stopped to watch the hassle, got out of her way quickly.

"Okay, but at least let me bring you something to eat." Mary-Margaret suggested.

Before she could say anything to that they came across of Mr. Gold.

"Deputy, can I talk to you a minute?" the pawnshop owner asked.

"Can it wait?"

"I think you would want to hear this."

"I'll leave you two alone" Mary-Margaret said. "I'll bring you dinner."

She opened the door and let Gold into the station.

"What's going on?" she asked impatiently.

"I wanted to give you this" Gold said and gave over a thick pack of papers.

"What's that?" she took it tentatively.

"The town's charta. I've read through the rules about the sheriff's election. It is said that the mayor can appoint a candidate, not a sheriff. There need to be elections. I'm going to initiate a council meeting about the issue. I hope you are running for the job, Miss Swan."

Emma was still staring after Gold when Mary-Margaret came in with a paper bag that smelled delicious.

"What happened?" she asked. "What did Gold want?"

"It seems I'm going to run for sheriff's position." She said sounding not so sure.

ooo

Mary Margaret could really work wonders. By the time they finished dinner and she left, Emma was much calmer. Gold's information helped too.

So, after she was left alone, she made coffee and turned on the computer. Graham had all ongoing and finished investigations on file, even the really old ones. Emma went through all of those, starting in the '90s and going backwards.

There were some missing person cases but they were all closed down, the missing persons found. Of course, if the sheriff was the perpetrator as Graham said, then there wouldn't be any case files. However, that body was definitely old.

She browsed further and clicked on Graham's personnel file. There were facts she knew about him, but not many and the file was quite informative. Graham was turning 30 this year. According to the file he was an orphan and spent his childhood in the town's orphanage that was run by nuns. He went to the Boston Police Academy, then came back to Storybrooke and became deputy. Only a year later, he became sheriff. He was only 24 then, quite young in Emma's opinion, but of course this was a small town and people voted for those who they knew. Also, there weren't many candidates for the job, shown by the fact that he didn't have a deputy until Emma.

When the phone rang, she realized that it was after midnight.

"Sheriff Department."

"This is Whale. I examined the body. He was shot in the head, one bullet. I'll send it over to you in the morning. I need to run some more tests, but my initial report would say that he was killed 27 to 30 years ago."

"Thank you, Doctor. Good night."

After that talk, she went back to the files of the late seventies, early eighties. She slept in somewhere around '78.

ooo

Archie has never been at a trial before, but as it turned out this wasn't really a trial, either. It was a court hearing, held in a small chamber, not a real courtroom, where Judge Spencer sat behind a simple desk, while all the others sat around a round table. There were no real formalities, noone had to stand up to talk, so it wasn't like in the movies.

First Regina and then Emma were asked about how they found Graham in the forest and how he behaved in the days before his illness. Archie came to the court together with Emma, after he found her at the station early in the morning. She looked tired, but more confident than the day before and she simply ignored Regina the whole time.

After that, Skinner was asked to talk about Graham's condition.

"Mr. Humbert had a severe case of viral encephalitis, with an extremely high fever." Skinner started. He brought a pack of papers with him, but he didn't look in them as he spoke "That definitely was a trauma to his brain. Physical trauma is known to cause mental disfunction and I think this happened to Mr. Humbert. When he was admitted, he showed signs of severe delusions of being someone else. He insisted that some people in this town - me and Mayor Mills amongst others - weren't really from this world, either. He also said that Miss Mills had his heart and that she controlled him through that, somehow. Those delusions are clear symptoms of mental illness, of schizophrenia with paranoid tendencies. He clearly has hallucinations, though he won't talk about them so as of now I can't be sure whether they are auditory or more complex. He's uncooperative in his treatment and has no sense of illness."

"In your opinion, is Mr. Humbert capable of making decisions about his own treatment?" Judge Spencer asked.

"If left to decide, he would certainly leave the hospital and abandon treatment. That would definitely be against his own interest."

Archie silently had to agree with that.

"That's not exactly an answer to the question, Doctor Skinner."

"I think that Mr. Humbert isn't capable of any rational decisions about his treatment, or anything else important."

"Thank you, Doctor. Would you say that Mr. Humbert is dangerous to others or to himself?"

"At this point, my professional opinion is that Mr. Humbert poses a definite danger to himself and to others, as well. Taking into account that he was trained in using violence, he could cause considerable damage. He has already attacked some of the orderlies at the hospital and also Miss Mills."

"Thank you, Doctor Skinner. Doctor Hopper."

Archie straightened in his seat.

"You are here as a representative of Mr. Humbert. Did he ask you to represent him?"

"No, he didn't. Miss Swan did, but I visited Mr. Humbert and he agreed. He signed an official proxy."

"That's attached to the papers, yes. I understand that you visited him a few times since his hospitalization."

"Yes, I did, Your Honor."

"As a professional yourself, do you agree with Doctor Skinner's diagnosis?"

"I'm sad to say, but yes, I do."

"So, you agree that Mr. Humbert needs to be hospitalized and is incapable of making decisions about it?"

Archie has thought about that a lot in the last days. They were talking about someone's life here, after all. If the decision was made, Graham would lose everything, most of all his independence. On the other hand, it was clear that Graham was seriously ill.

"Yes, I do agree." He said.

"All right." The judge said. "After reading through the files and hearing your statements, I came to the decision that Mr. Humbert is clearly suffering from a severe mental illness. Herewith, I declare him incapable in making decisions concerning his medical treatment. I order mandatory hospitalization for five weeks. During this time every decision concerning the treatment is to be made by Doctor Skinner, but you have to consult Doctor Hopper before deciding. If after five weeks, you think that a longer hospitalization is needed you have to petition for an elongation at this court. After his release a social worker has to be appointed for him by the Mayor's office. This of course also means that with this decision Mr. Humbert is removed from his position as the sheriff. All the concerned will get a written decision. Thank you for your time."

With that they were dismissed.

Outside a small group of journalists waited for them, clearly ordered there by Regina. She announced that Graham was removed from his position. Emma stood next to Archie and he saw how her hands clenched into tight fists at that. Then Regina started to speak about how she would appoint Sidney Glass as the new sheriff.

"Hang on a second, Madame Mayor!" Emma spoke up loudly.

"Excuse me?" Regina turned back, with a faked, polite smile, but her eyes were glinting with venom.

"The town's charta allows the mayor to appoint a candidate. It also calls for an election."

"The term candidate is used loosely." Regina cut in.

"I don't think so. Because I'm running for the job."

The journalists were scribbling in their notebooks like crazy. It was the first time anyone could hear someone speak up against the mayor like this.

"And so is Sidney." Regina declared with a barely concealed scowl.

The man in question seemed to be more confused than anyone else present.

"Am I?" he asked quietly, then at Regina's frown he said more confidently. "Yes, I am."

Emma smiled at Regina, and she looked definitely dangerous at that point.

"We will see what the town's people want, Madame Mayor."

"Yes, we will."

ooo

He wouldn't have done it if he were in his right mind, he realized that later, because it was another crazy thing to do.

Graham was set free of the restraints before breakfast and an orderly helped him sit up, but he couldn't eat. He felt queasy and dizzy, so he lied back and dozed off. He had surrealistic dreams about Regina at the Town Hall but dressed like a Queen. Then he found himself in the Infinite Forest and he was shouting for Emma. Every time he glimpsed her, she turned into a black wolf and disappeared in the darkness.

At lunch he was shaken awake by a different orderly. He was given some medicine and this time he could eat too, though everything felt like sawdust in his mouth.

Some time later, Archie and Emma came to visit with Skinner in tow. The doctor stayed there the whole time and so did an orderly. As if he would ever attack Emma. She asked questions about the body. How he knew where it was?

He felt empty. Every time Emma asked a question he answered the same thing.

"I killed that man."

Then they explained how the procedure at court went down. Obviously Archie was kind of his guardian now and he was also going to get a social worker when he was released from here. Social workers were subordinates of the mayor. He would stay under Regina's thumb, no matter what.

They all looked at him with pity. He didn't want them to look at him at all, so after a while he buried his face behind his hands and didn't even look up when they left.

"Rest a bit." Skinner said. He didn't want to rest, either. "Later we will take you for an MRI scan. We need to make sure that the inflammation in your brain is not coming back. Then, you can take a shower and I'm sure you will feel more comfortable."

He didn't think that he would feel comfortable ever again. He felt like he was in someone else's skin.

When a nurse and an orderly came later, he was still confused. They made him sit in a wheelchair.

They were in the lobby of the hospital and he saw the exit and the sky behind it. So, he ran.

He jumped and pushed the wheelchair at them. He thought, he also hit one or more people. Later, he didn't really remember. He just wanted to go where his heart was. He just wanted to prove that he wasn't crazy.

His mind pushed forward memories of his first night as the Queen's prisoner. He made a run for it that night too, with the same agenda on his mind: getting his heart back. He remembered - and felt - the magical pull of the organ and he knew where he could find it.

He was jumping back and forth between past and present.

He saw dark, stone-walled corridors around himself, heard the rattling of chain-mails and swords, when in reality he was in open air, on a street of Storybrooke.

He was barely functioning because the Queen just ripped out his heart a few hours ago and then proved that she owned him in every sense of the world when she forced her dark magic into him.

In reality he was barely functioning because he was pumped full with antipsychotics and sedatives.

People in white coats were pursuing him and shouting after him, but he was sure that they were guards.

Still, he was a fast runner - he remembered deep down that as sheriff of Storybrooke, he went for long runs more times a week - and somehow he got to the Mills Family Mausoleum without being caught. The orderlies were shouting at him and he heard sirens form not too far.

He kicked in the door, right when the patrol car pulled up behind him. He stopped and turned.

The guards - orderlies - were advancing but Emma was getting out of the car and stopped them.

Emma.

He knew who Emma was. She was his savior.

The Savior.

Henry told him so.

She was beautiful and strong. If he could make her believe in him, if he could show her the truth, she would help. She would make everything all right.

Right now, she looked worried, but calm.

"Graham, let them help you, please." she said.

"I can show you." His voice sounded foreign to his own ears. He wanted to sound earnest but it came out agitated and raspy.

He gulped and tried again.

"I know where my heart is now. I remember everything."

He backed into the crypt, hoping that Emma would follow and she did. Without hesitation, he pushed at the coffin and it moved easily and the stairs to the secret rooms were there, leading downward.

"Graham! This is grave desecration, stop." Emma said.

"No-no... I'll show you, just come down with me." he said and stepped on the first stair.

"Down where? Graham, you are making no sense. Please, let them help you."

He could see the two orderlies at the entrance, waiting, for now.

"The stairs, Emma. Come down and I'll show you. She has my heart. She has a lots of hearts down there."

Emma looked definitely sad now, she looked at him with the same pity she did earlier at the hospital.

"There are no stairs, Graham. You are standing on solid, marble floor."

It was like someone poured ice-cold water on his head.

"No-no-no. Can't you see?" He looked at the orderlies, who were somewhat out of breath but bored otherwise, then he looked back to Emma. "This is part of her magic. You have to see!"

Emma stepped closer and took his upper arm in a firm grip.

"No, Graham. You have to go back to the hospital. The judge ordered your medical treatment.."

"Please, don't do this..." he whispered and tried to pull away but Emma's grip tightened and she was one person Graham would never hurt, no matter how out of it he was. "I'm not crazy. This is all true."

"Please, Graham. Don't make this any harder. If you don't cooperate, I'll have to take you into custody because you escaped mandatory medical treatment."

She really didn't see it. The orderlies didn't see it, either. He needed to make her listen.

"Emma, listen to me. Regina is controlling everything here. Henry is right. You have to believe."

He desperately wanted her to understand, she looked at him sympathetically, but that wasn't enough. He could see it in her eyes and her hand moved towards the handcuffs on her belt.

"Are you coming voluntary?"

He couldn't look her in the eyes anymore. She thought he was crazy. He bowed his head and whispered.

"I don't think I can do that."

Defeated, he turned, put his arms behind his back and let Emma cuff him.

TBC