~Author's Note~
In this chapter we are going to get to see some things from Emma's point of view as well. Enjoy!
Chapter 9
By the time Regina awoke, it was almost three in the afternoon. She rubbed her eyes, threw on some clothes, and went to check on Katelyn.
She found Granny still next to Katelyn, who was groaning and clutching her ribs. She was covered in a thin layer of sweat and Granny was dabbing her forehead with a wet cloth. When Granny saw Regina, she motioned for her.
"She's worse," Regina stated matter-of-factly.
"Yes," Granny said. "I think the fever is from being out in the cold rain but I don't know why her chest is hurting her so badly."
Regina frowned. Before she hadn't wanted to use magic, but after her encounter with Henry at the well, she wondered if this might be a way to show him that all magic wasn't bad. So she told Granny to step back, closed her eyes, and held her hands out over Katelyn.
A purple glow came from her fingertips, and although Regina didn't see it, Granny noticed that the color seemed lighter than usual. Katelyn's body shook for a moment, and then lay still. Regina opened her eyes just in time to see Katelyn do the same.
"You healed me?" Katelyn asked. Regina just nodded. Katelyn smiled and said, "Thank you."
Regina only nodded again, but then Granny said, "Why don't we all go to the diner and get some food? You need to work up your strength again." Regina and Katelyn both gave her a disbelieving look. Granny decided to rephrase.
"Get dressed. We're going."
Meanwhile, Emma sat in Granny's diner with Henry and Neal. She kept thinking about what she had seen at Regina's house. Who the hell was that girl? And why was Granny over there?
She saw Ruby cleaning the counter so she left Henry and Neal and went over.
"Hey Emma," Ruby said looking up. "What can I do for you?"
"Do you know why Granny was over at Regina's house yesterday?"
"Oh, she been there for a few days now," Ruby replied. "She didn't give me any details, just that Regina needed her help and that I was to keep the diner."
"What is going on over there?" Emma whispered, mostly to herself.
"Listen," Ruby said. "I know how you feel about Regina. And I can't say I really blame you. But for some reason Granny has always had a soft spot for Regina. They care about each other in some weird way."
Emma frowned. "Thanks Rubes," she said and returned to her table, where Neal was telling Henry about his fiancée, Tamara.
"When is she getting here?" Henry asked.
"Tomorrow," Neal said. He started to say more before he was distracted by the door opening.
Regina walked into the diner followed by Granny and the strange girl. The diner grew silent. This was the first time Regina had been seen in public since the incident with Cora. Emma moved to stand up but stopped when she saw Ruby shaking her head at her.
Emma could tell that Regina was uncomfortable, but Granny steered her and the girl into a booth at the back of the restaurant.
"Who is that girl with my mom?" Henry asked.
"I have no idea," Emma said. "She was at the mansion yesterday when I went by there looking for you but she seemed really hurt or sick or something." Before Henry could ask another question, Granny marched over to their table.
"Now," she said in a low but serious voice. "You will leave those two to eat in peace. Got it?"
"Granny who is that?" Henry asked. Granny sighed.
"Her name is Katelyn. Some guy did quite the number on her and Regina has been taking care of her."
"But why wasn't I informed?" Emma asked. "I mean, I am the sheriff. Shouldn't she have gone to the hospital? Who did this? And how is she here? Yesterday she looked terrible and now she looks fine!"
"We don't know who did this, other than that he works at the hospital, which is why she wouldn't let us take her there. And I'm pretty sure you know why Regina didn't want to call you." Emma cringed.
"And for your information," Granny continued, "Regina healed Katelyn."
"She used magic?!" Henry cried. "She's not supposed to do that!"
Granny just shook her head. "Miss Swan, I believe you and your son need to recognize that the world isn't black and white. Until then, please leave Regina and Katelyn alone." At that, Granny walked away, leaving a very confused table.
