A bit of season 1 nostalgia with a few changes here. Hope you all enjoy reading.
When Regina unexpectedly turned up at the office the following day, Emma straightened her back, like an eager puppy dog, ready for interaction of any sort. Much to her disdain, the Mayor got straight to business.
"Sheriff, what's this about leaving the day after next?" She strode in and placed her hands on her hips, locking eyes with Graham. Emma sunk into her seat, at not being acknowledged, knowing by her attitude she wasn't going to get what she wanted.
"Is that a problem?" Graham implored, looking at the mayor with a relaxed look.
"Yes it's a problem. Storybrooke needs an acting Sheriff all year round."
"Well Emma can take over until the Debate is settled." He gestured to Emma. The mayors' head at last snapped to the blonde, a slight frown on her face. Not the look she was hoping for, Emma felt like melting into her seat.
"Emma hasn't the experience." Graham scoffed in disagreement.
"I beg to differ, but if you insist from now on she can act as Sheriff. I'll act as Deputy." He tried to reason.
"You're not hearing me. You need to remain Sheriff - of - Storybrooke until all this is resolved. It's irresponsible to leave so soon." She sounded out each word slowly like talking to a child.
"In all due respect, I have trained Emma up under my watch, I as acting Sheriff am happy to hand the badge over to Emma. Yet here we are undergoing the unnecessary arrangements for this sham of a debate."
"Watch your tone Sheriff." She seethed.
"Or what? You'll fire me? Go ahead, you'll be doing me a favour." He waited for a response with a knowing grin on his face.
Emma felt like she was watching a tennis match, her eyes fleeted back and forth between them both, waiting with bated breath.
"Miss Swan." Regina addressed her loud and clear her eyes staying fixed on Graham's.
Emma flinched at the sudden involvement in the discussion.
"Yes?" She croaked.
"You will patrol the streets this afternoon, we need less of you cooped up in the office. You will follow any instruction either Graham or I gives to you, but under no circumstance do you do Graham's job for him. Is that clear Deputy?" She stressed the title.
"Loud and clear." With this Regina straightened herself up and broke eye contact with Graham.
"Before you leave I will need you to return all town property. Of course your badge, your gun and holster to say the least. I'll need you to sign a couple of papers also."
"Can't wait." He smiled falsely and Regina rolled her eyes. Taking a quick scan of the room.
"And clean up in here, it looks like student accommodation with all these takeaway boxes."
"Yes ma'am." He beamed a bigger smile. Stealing one quick glance to the blonde, Regina picked up her handbag and bid them farewell.
"Jeez that woman really winds me up." Graham groaned as soon as she left. Emma let out the apparent breath she had been holding and leaned back in her chair.
"You need to stop biting back."
"Don't have to worry anymore. Besides I was tame this time. It seems she's actually gutted I'm going."
"Get over yourself." Emma laughed with disdain.
"Wonder if she's replaced me with anyone yet." Graham said almost to himself, but Emma couldn't help but feel disheartened of the thought of her being bored and finding a replacement for ... fun.
"I've noticed Jefferson check her out a few times."
"What makes you think it's guys she would consider?" As soon as she said it she cursed herself.
"Women? Regina?" He brushed the idea off and then reflected on the thought.
"Wait do you get the vibe off her?"
"It's not a gay spider sense, but yeah I've err noticed she's checked Ruby out once or twice." She diverted the truth.
"Hell everyone checks Ruby out."
"Just a thought." Emma tried to change the subject.
"Would you mind if they got together?" Graham asked after a few beats went by.
"Huh?"
"Would you be jealous of Regina?"
"No, no I wouldn't be jealous of Regina." She answered truthfully. Wanting to drop it and move on, she got to her feet and declared she was going to start her patrols early. With no obligation Graham let her do so and reminded her to check the animal shelter as planned also.
As it neared late afternoon, Emma decided to pop by the animal shelter. On the outskirts of town, it was a quiet area and she admitted she had no reason to stop by prior to this. Now she had the debate to think of she took Gold and Graham's ideas on board and thought she could help out in any way she could. The door chimed announcing her presence, it was quiet here. Only one woman behind the desk, otherwise an empty waiting room. Beaming a friendly smile Emma walked right up to the desk greeting her.
"Good afternoon Sherriff Swan" The woman tucked her loose strand of long chestnut brown hair behind her ear.
"Hey. I don't believe we've properly met." Emma stretched out her hand and the woman introduced herself as Paloma. She stood tall, her dark tanned skin revealed a dream catcher tattoo around her wrist, that Emma admired. Emma presumed it was a native American influence.
"I like the tattoo." Emma complimented her.
"Thanks. My father used to make dream catchers for me."
"That's nice." She smiled.
"How can I help you then? Any trouble?"
"No trouble. To be honest with you I just wondered whether there was anything I could do around here to help out maybe. You must be rammed off your feet" She scanned the room and Paloma followed her gaze.
"Or not." Emma continued, earning a light laugh from her.
"Does the Police force not have enough to do?"
"Not enough it seems. To be honest, this is all in preparation to the debate on Thursday. Mr Gold and Graham think I need to get my face out there more and show people how much I care for this town."
"I've no doubt about that. I'm still baffled by Sidney Glass even being put forward." Emma made a face, to show she silently agreed.
"I am expected a customer soon though if you want to stick around and you can help at the front desk maybe?"
"Sure that sounds great."
"You're good with cats and dogs?"
"Never had a pet myself but yeah I love cats and dogs."
"Good, Mr Dear has a couple of dogs he should be here in 10 if you want me to show you the place real quick?"
"Great yeah." With that Paloma turned on her heel and led Emma out back where a few cats meowed from behind their cages. Paloma made a few kissy noises towards them and then started the mini tour.
"As you can see it's not the biggest of centres but it's big enough I guess for a small town as this. Have you met Dr Forrester?" She asked, hand ready on the handle to the next room.
"I've not yet no."
"Let me just see if he's all done." With a light rap at the door, she swung the door open and asked him if he needed any help.
"No thank you Paloma I'm just finished in here." He said as he removed a ginger cat from the weighing scales.
"Can I introduce you to Emma Swan? She's come round to help out for a while." He lowered his big frame silver glasses and flashed a goofy smile.
"I've not had the honour until now Miss Swan."
"You're the only vet here Dr?"
"That's right, with Paloma being a fantastic Nurse we get by tremendously." Paloma smiled at his words.
"I'm happy to hear that. I realise I've come on a quiet afternoon, but I'm happy to help in anyway."
"Very kind of you. We're always thankful for volunteers." At that the bell chimed announcing a customers arrival.
"Shall we?" Paloma gestured back to the waiting room.
"Lovely to meet you."
"Likewise." As they both entered the waiting room, Paloma greeted Mr Dear, who was trying to settle his two dogs. Emma recognised him from her morning jogs. He had a Schnauzer and a cocker spaniel wrapped around his legs on a leash who barked at her arrival and came to inspect whether they liked her or not.
"Hey buddy." She earned a wag of the schnauzer's tail as she stroked the back of his ears.
"Miss Swan."
"Hey. I don't think we've officially met." She held her hand out.
"It's Jim, Jim Dear." He shook her hand with his free one.
"I've seen you out jogging."
"Yeah my wife and I live on Wonder Lane."
"Just round the corner from where I'm staying."
"With Mary Margaret, sure I know it. Although not a lot of town to not know." They shared a laugh.
"Are you all ready for the debate Thursday?"
"I think so yes. I'm just raring for it to happen in all honesty."
"That's a good attitude to have." With this Paloma joined in on the conversation, coming to Emma's aid.
"Miss Swan here is volunteering, she seems to be doing more than what Sidney is doing."
"Yeah volunteering is better than sabotage anyway." Paloma shook her head at him, knowing all too well what he was referring.
"I'm sorry?" Emma asked puzzled.
"Sidney of course. You've seen today's paper right?"
"Papers?" She quizzed him unaware.
"Sorry Emma I just presumed you'd saw." Paloma thrust a copy of the mornings newspaper towards her. There on the front page was her mug shot taken with 'EX JAIL BIRD, EMMA SWAN BITHED BABE BEHIND BARS'. Article written by Sidney Glass.
It was now 2:50pm, the whole day she was oblivious to the paper written that morning. She'd been walking around town with people giving her questioning looks. Hell she just thought it was the hype of the debate people were staring. She was mortified, but most of all she was worried Henry be hurt. Sure he knew with as little detail as possible that she ended up in jail, but with as brash and cut throat as this article was, it might upset him. If she made it now she could meet him at Granny's and hopefully avoid him finding out.
"I've got to go. Sorry."
"Sure no problem." Paloma threw a look at Jim Dear, who too was feeling sorry about the situation. With that she ran out, leaving two empathetic residents.
As she arrived at Granny's she could see Henry sat in a booth through the window, she ran up the steps, threw the door open breathless. As she stood over him ready to sit next to him she saw what he was reading. With a big exhale of breath she threw herself down next to him.
"Good day at school?" She attempted a nice start of a conversation.
"Is it all true?"
"From what I've read, but I did not further my sentence on bad behaviour." She had just this second read it.
"God." She balled her fists up.
"My mom will be behind this. I told you to be careful around her. She wants you gone, somewhere where you can't see me anymore." Henry looked up at her and Emma's heart melted when she saw he had tears in his eyes.
"Hey now. That's not true."
"What if she keeps us apart?"
"Listen to me carefully, I won't let that happen ok? You're getting ahead of yourself. Your mother and me well we're getting to tolerate each other."
" I don't know what she has planned, but we need to be careful. Especially you, you're Snow White's child remember, that's why she'll want you gone even more."
"I thought I was the saviour? I'll make sure things turn out for the best."
Emma tried to make him feel better in whatever way she could think of and so she shared some new information with him.
"Plus I have a new ally. Mr Gold said that he's gonna help."
"Mr Gold? He's even worse than she is. You already owe him one favour, you don't want to owe him anymore. Don't do this." Henry made his point clear. He was still wrapped up in this notion of seeing everyone as characters from his book. She could understand why Gold was cast as a villain. Emma too had to admit he gave her the creeps with how sly his actions are and how mysterious he is. Maybe Henry was right, maybe Gold couldn't be trusted.
Regina was logging out of her computer, to finish for the day when she head the sound of footsteps get closer and closer. As soon as she realised this person was not up for knocking she guessed it was Emma without having to look up.
"This was a juvie record. This was sealed by court order. I don't know how you got it but it's that's abusive power and illegal." Emma burst right up to her, the newspaper in hand.
"Oh I'm sorry you didn't want people to know you cut his cord with a shiv?" She grabbed her bag and began leaving the office. On her tail Emma continued her rant.
"I don't care what people know but this hurts Henry. He was going on about you being an evil queen for God's sake. Why are you not concerned of this concept he's made up where you're the villain?"
"He's fine."
"He's not fine. I mean think about it, watching his adoptive mother throw an illegal smear campaign against his birth mother you, don't think that would be upsetting?" They were heading down the stairs now, on their way out of town hall.
"I did nothing wrong, but Sidney and you will have the chance to get into all of that at the debate tomorrow. You two can talk about jail time and juvie records and maybe even your new association with Mr Gold. He's a snake Miss Swan, you need to be careful." They reached the bottom of the staircase.
"I was just fighting fire with fire-" As Regina opened the door, she was thrown back to the explosion from behind it. The blonde groaned at the shock and at the tough landing she had. Staring in horror the brunette muttered under her breath.
"Shit." Emma cried out, staring at the roaring flames beyond the door, only several feet away. Thinking fast, she decided upstairs and to the nearest window would be their best bet.
"Come on, this way."
"I can't move." Regina was clutching her leg, a piece of metal had her leg trapped underneath it. Emma didn't waste any time.
"Sorry if this hurts." She picked it up with both hands and groaned at the weight of it before tossing it aside.
Regina winced from the pain.
"Can you stand?" She put her hand out, ready for her to take. She fumbled as she tried to stand and Emma was quick to catch her.
"I need you to wait here."
"Are you crazy? The flames are spreading too quickly." There was smoke billowing in around them now. Emma saw genuine fear in the Mayor's eyes and it made her see her as the furthest thing from Henry's evil queen. It dawned on her she had never known her to show any sign of weakness and although it couldn't be helped, she was vulnerable in this moment. She needed Emma and they both knew that.
"I'll be right back." With no time to argue, Emma shielded her face and jumped through the doorway and into the burning room, the only way out. Regina in desperation shifted her body towards the staircase, there she propped herself up so she was in somewhat of a standing position. Much to her relief, Emma was back quicker than she expected, but still longer than she'd hoped. With a fire extinguisher in hand, she cleared a path for them both. There was no time for talk or hesitation, the blonde knew they needed to get out fast and with Regina's leg, they had less time. Emma went straight to her side lifted her up as Regina flung her arm over her shoulder. Regina put her body weight on Emma and her good leg and miraculously they spotted the exit seconds later.
"Almost there." Emma rasped. Picking up speed, Regina hopped along just that little bit faster. Emma opened the door by shoving her shoulder into it. The doors flew open an they came stumbling out. With the flash of a camera, a reporter managed to capture the perfect shot.
"Ow my ankle, set me down gently." Regina exclaimed. After Emma was done coughing from the smoke, she responded.
"Seriously, you're complaining about how I saved your life?" She asked in disbelief. The nerve of this woman.
"The firemen have just got here, it's not like we were really in danger." The sound of sirens came to a stop as a few firemen hopped out and began tackling the blaze.
"Fine next time I will just - you know what next time I'd do the same again, because that's what good people do." Emma let out all the frustration this day had on her out.
"Emma wait." But Emma was not in the mood to be toyed with. She continued to walk away regardless of Regina's soft call out to her. She left Regina to be fussed by the paramedics who had just turned up. Emma refused their help, she felt fine, she just needed to breath and take a moment. How dare she. After what happened only last night, from going from something so enticing, to sinking so low. She was hurt and she didn't want to admit it, but she had hoped she had got through to Regina. It's like she enjoys toying with her. Well it's about time somebody stood up to her. To do that properly she had to win that debate. That was her priority.
It wasn't until Emma noticed the same rope she found in Gold's shop lying amongst the debris, did she begin to wonder whether it was someone else's priority too.