A/N- Because I wouldn't want to be on the wrong side of Emma.
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"... you don't have to wait for someone to treat you bad repeatedly. All it takes is once, and if they get away with it that once, if they know they can treat you like that, then it sets the pattern for the future."
― Jane Green, Bookends
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The first time Emma isn't in control of herself is when she sees Daniel at the station. Emma's drive to the sheriff's station is surprisingly calm, she doesn't speed, she doesn't press down the accelerator to make a yellow light in the middle of town, she parks carefully next to David's car, and takes a deep breath before locking her bug and walking in.
David comes out to meet her in the hallway before she even lays eyes on the man. David's expression is concerned, it's clear he's half asleep on his feet (which is fair enough considering it's nearly midnight), and he's ready to stop Emma from doing something she'd regret.
"Where is he?" Emma asks, she has no idea what she's going to do once she gets her hands on Daniel, but she knows she has to do something.
"He's in the drunk tank, Emma just wait a minute."
"I don't need to wait for anything, David."
"Yes, you do." He says, meeting her gaze. They both know he's not asking as her friend, he's telling as her boss, "He wouldn't tell me anything when I picked him up, did he and Regina have a fight or something?"
Emma ran a hand through her curls, "Yeah, or something." She so wants to tell David what's going on, but she knows it's not her truth to reveal.
"Emma, what's going on?" He asks, searching her conflicted expression, "He didn't-" David cuts himself off, not wanting to finish what he's afraid has happened.
"No, it's-" Emma tries to defend, but she can't, "Regina just dropped a vase and cut her hands on the glass."
David raises an eyebrow at her, "Emma-"
"I know, I know. But I'm not doing this, it's Regina's thing. I'm not violating her privacy anymore than that jackass already has violated her."
The sheriff nods shortly, "Can I trust you to stay here with Daniel overnight, or should I call someone else in?"
"No, I can manage. You need to get back to Mary Margaret."
The older man looks at the determination in Emma's eyes and fears for anyone who crosses her, "You need to get back to Henry."
"Ruby's looking after him."
David only hesitates for another moment before nodding his consent, "If anything happens to that man, so help me Swan." He gives her as his final warning.
"Don't worry."
She waits until David has left the station before she goes back to where the holding cells are. Daniel is sitting on a bunk in one of the cells, his head in his hands. He looks utterly defeated. In another world, a world where he's just a man who was driving under the influence, where Emma was just the deputy sheriff on call, where Regina didn't exist, and where the brunette's palms weren't cut by shattered glass, she might have felt sorry for him.
He looks up when he hears her footsteps approach the cell. She rests against a desk, needing to ground herself, force herself to keep her distance.
"Who are you?" He asks with surprising clarity. His eyes are clear, and he's less drunk than he had been, having the time sitting in holding to sober up.
"I'm deputy sheriff Swan." She says, searching his face for any sign of remorse.
"Oh yeah, Gina's mentioned you." He nods diplomatically, the perfect wolf in sheep's clothing. Emma ignores the small excitement she gets at hearing that Regina's talked about her. "When are you going to release me?"
"Later." Emma replies dismissively.
She watches him run the knuckles of his right hand in a nervous gesture. It's the only indication he gives that something is off.
"Come on, Regina's at home, we had an argument and I need to go apologize to her." He tries, standing and approaching the bars of the cell. He lets his forearms hang outside and leans his forehead against the metal.
Emma's gut clenches, he's so sure of himself that nobody knows his little abusive secret, Emma just has to wipe the smug smile off his face, "I think Regina is fine without you. I stopped by your house before I got here."
Daniel's eyes narrow, "What did she tell you?"
"She told me she dropped a case and cut her hands on the glass."
Daniel nods, "That sounds right."
Seeing the little uptick at the corner of his mouth sets Emma off. She has to let him know he won't get away with this again.
In seconds she is off the desk, up at the bars of the cell. She grabs one of his hands where it's loosely hanging outside and twists, forcing his entire body around until his back slams into the bars.
"You listen to me jackass, if Regina drops another vase, or trips down the stairs, or runs into a countertop, or whatever other bullshit she covers for you with, I'm coming for you. And I'm not holding back." She warns, her voice low and deadly right next to his ear, "Understand?"
"I'm sure I don't know what you're talking about." He grits out through the pain of the position.
Emma pulls his arms tighter, forcing his shoulder blade into a position just centimeters from popping out of the socket, "Do you understand me now?"
When he nods his head finally, and Emma lets him go, watching him slide down to the ground, holding his shoulder in pain, she doesn't recognize herself. She walks quickly out of the station, pacing up and down the sidewalk in front under the streetlamp.
It's past midnight, and she can see the stars. She wishes for a happy ending.
A/N- Thank you all for reading, and to everyone who called Daniel an 'ass' or 'jackass', you all made my day! And may have provided some inspiration for Emma's threat ;)