"Coffee?" Emma asked soothingly, handing Coulson a steaming styrofoam cup.
"Thanks," Coulson mumbled, taking the cup from her hands. He stared soullessly out the doorway.
"So, I assume you know that I'm with SHIELD" he mused, turning to Emma. "Big scary government stuff."
"Dr. Foster mentioned you were checking up on us," answered Emma, defeatedly slumping into the seat next to Coulson. "Phil, was it?"
"Yeah."
They both took a simultaneous, sobering gulp of coffee.
"So, how'd you meet her? Jane, I mean. You recruited her, I take it?"
"New Mexico. 2008," Coulson sighed. "We found an unidentified piece of space matter following a unique cosmic event, very similar to your situation, actually. Dr. Foster and her assistant were too plucky to resist. That was our first contact with Asgard, I assume you've heard of Thor?"
"Yeah, I've seen the news," Emma answered, reclining as much as the folding chair would allow.
"Does it ever get old?" She asked with a start.
"Pardon?"
"I'm a bondsperson from Boston." Emma explained. "I never believed in fairy tales, aliens, other worlds...but then I came here. My mother is Snow White, I slayed a dragon, Hell, I crossed dimensions and almost got killed by a one-handed pirate...but you-" Emma stared. "You look at us, all our monsters and magic, and all you see is another day at the office, don't you?"
"Sometimes," Coulson said, bitterly. "Sometimes you wake up, make your coffee, put on your suit, and at the end of the day your friend ends up in a body bag."
Emma bit her lip, staring at her half empty cup. She looked out the observation window at Darcy, pacing nervously back and forth.
"Poor kid, I can only imagine what she's feeling."
"She's been with Jane from the beginning," Coulson sighed. "She was just a kid when we drafted her to work with us. Nineteen years old."
"Do a lot of agents start that young?"
"I did," Coulson admitted.
They stared silently at Darcy as she paced outside of intensive care. She looked as if she was either praying to a higher power, or cursing heavily under her breath. A few minutes later, Whale emerged. He nodded reassuringly at Darcy, who lurched to hug him. Emma and Coulson rushed outside to meet them.
"She's awake. She's stable, but I want to keep her for a few nights. Just to be sure."
"Can we see her?" Darcy asked.
"Okay, but take it slow. One at a time. She's on oxygen, but that's the extent of the hardware."
Coulson nodded reassuringly at his protege, hanging back as Darcy tiptoed through the doors of the ICU. Right inside the entrance lay Jane, pale and drowsy. Her hospital gown tied sloppily around her waist.
"Hey, Foster. Shit, you look terrible," Darcy grinned tearfully, giving Jane's hand a soft squeeze.
"You been cryin' Lewis?" Jane wheezed. "Don't tell me you've gone soft on me. What would Thor say?"
Darcy smiled. "Oh, I don't know...Something along the lines of 'Oh fair maiden Darcy, whereth lie your warrior spirit? I see-eth Covergirl Lashblast running down your comely face...eth'"
"Is it this thing," Jane gestured feebly at the oxygen tube under her nose, "or did that bitch rip my heart out?"
"She did." said Darcy. "But she's gone, she won't hurt you anymore."
Jane let her head sink heavily into the pillows, trying to take deep breaths.
"Sorry I scared you, Darce."
"Me? Scared? Yeah, right. I just didn't want to clear out your office. Lord knows what I'd find in there," Darcy choked, but Jane flashed knowing doe eyes at her assistant.
"Okay, I was a little scared," she admitted. "Well, a little more than a little. Fuck, Jane-"
Darcy felt her voice crack as tears filled her sinuses.
"I didn't want to lose you. Hell, we almost lost Phil to this stupid place."
"Speak of the devil," Jane's voice rattled, giving a half nod past Darcy. Coulson and Emma paced gently to her bedside.
"Hey, Phil," Jane smiled. "Fancy seein' you here."
"Dr. Foster," Phil nodded. "How are you feeling?"
"Shiny," Jane sighed dreamily. "Drugs are nice. I just took my first nap in ages."
"I know the feeling," Coulson grinned, tapping his heart lightly. "Get some rest, okay? The faster you heal up, the faster we can get you back to New York."
"Fat...fucking...chance" Jane wheezed, her breath clouding the oxygen tube under her nose. "This town is our best lead."
"We already brought the van and the sleeping bags, we're not going anywhere," Darcy interjected.
"That's an order, Dr. Foster," Coulson's grin dropped. "You and Miss Lewis are to go home the minute you're cleared."
"Actually, that might be a problem," Emma interrupted, pulling her folded contract from her coat pocket. "They're under orders from your boss to investigate the area. Big scary guy with an eye patch."
"Fury-" Coulson gritted his teeth as he skimmed the document.
"Hey, we're SHIELDies, right?" said Jane. "Occupational Hazard."
"Fine." Coulson hissed. "But you two are to stay under the radar. No more fighting, no more interfering with the town."
"Yes, Dad" the two groaned in unison.
"I swear, you two are the reason I'm never having daughters."
Emma stepped back and watched the three bicker. She thought about the day the curse broke, when Mary Margaret and David revealed themselves as Snow White and Prince Charming, running to embrace their long lost daught-
Emma choked. It was still too much. She wished she could talk to Mary Margaret about it, the old Mary Margaret...the schoolteacher who would give her advice, shoot whiskey with her on the weekends, her best friend.
"I have to make a call," Emma interjected. "I'll come back in the morning."
Before the team could respond, Emma was out the door. She pulled her phone from her pocket and began dialing. The other line rang three times as Emma's throat grew dry.
"Mary Margaret speaking,"
"...Mom?"
...
On the other side of the hospital, Mr. Gold knocked gently on his true love's door. She jumped in surprise, dropping her book onto her lap.
"Can I come in? I'm sorry, I know it's late..."
"Um, sure..." she smiled.
"I'm really sorry if I startled you, the night of the accident." said Gold, moving cautiously towards the bed.
"I know that you have no memory of me. But my feelings for you are real. I just wanted you to know that, but I never intended to scare you. I'm sorry."
The girl in the bed stared up at him with massive blue eyes. "Apology accepted," she said in a husky accent. "And I could tell your feelings were true."
"You could?"
"Yeah, I dunno. I had this...feeling."
Gold eyed the book in her lap, "The Mysterious Island"
"So, you're enjoying the book, then?" Gold asked, hopefully.
"Yeah, I um...think the jacket got mixed up," she said. "This is some girl's diary, but it's really good. Well written."
"Belle," Gold sighed.
"So you knew her?" Lacey asked, picking the book back up. "What was she like?"
"She was-" Gold's throat clamped shut. He looked at the girl in the hospital bed, looking eager through Belle's eyes at him. She really had no idea who she was...who he was.
"A beautiful woman," He recounted sadly "who loved an ugly man. Really, really loved him. She found goodness in others, and when it wasn't there, she created it. She was a hero."
"She sounds brilliant," said Lacey, thumbing through the pages. "I can't wait to get to the ending! I mean, it's not like I have anything else to do in this place."
Gold paused.
"Would you like to get out of here?"
"Pardon?"
"You could stay with me. I mean, I would give you absolute privacy of course, but it might help you figure out who you are, getting out of here."
"I'd like that," beamed Lacey.
"You're sure?"
"I mean," she mused happily. "If I can't remember who I am, I must have had a past...and it's not a stretch to assume that past included you. I just...trust you, I can't explain it."
"Let's talk to someone about getting you out of here," said Gold happily.
"Everyone's gone home," sighed Lacey.
"First thing in the morning, then." Gold promised. "I'll be here for you."
"I'll be waiting."
Short/fluffy chapter. I love writing Jane and Darcy so much. (Snarky lady scientists make me happy.) Also, a little Rumbelle to wrap things up before the next big arc.
Thanks so much for reading, everyone! I love getting all your wonderful comments.
See you at the next chapter!
Love,
DC