"Come in."
When silence greets her request, the brunette frowns; stalking towards the door and repeating herself more forcefully.
"Come in... Who's there?"
Gathering her nerves, she pulls at the heavy door, letting out a choked cry as she is almost knocked aside by flailing limbs. Rolling her eyes as she imagines the blonde had been pressed up against the door- presumably in an attempt to discern whether she had found the right room- she fusses with her hair primly, turning to make her way over to sit on the bed.
"Really, Miss Swan..."
The younger woman offers no response, and it is only once she glances back up at the Sheriff that the Queen properly takes in the image she portrays. Her tone losing its disdainful irritability, she regards the pale woman with a furrowed brow before moving from the bed to pad cautiously back towards her.
"...Emma?"
She hadn't forgotten about the blonde's state of dress- or lack of it- but she is still uncomfortable when presented with slender, unclad limbs once more. Nevertheless, she scans the younger woman's pale frame critically before she considers herself content that the Sheriff has sustained no further damage then that inflicted by her mother.
This begs the question however, of why Emma trembles the way she does.
"What happened? What's wrong?"
Taking in the way the blonde simply shakes her head, her eyes wide and breath hitched, Regina shakes her gently, becoming increasingly concerned at the way the usually outspoken young woman fails to answer her.
Hell, to even properly acknowledge her.
"Miss Swan?"
"I... She... It ate itself, Regina... It fucking ate itself..."
Harsh breaths become ever more sporadic, and the brunette recognises the Sheriff's state for what it is and ushers her quickly over to the bed before the blonde proceeds to have a full blown panic attack right in the middle of her bedroom.
"Sit, and put your head between your legs."
Manipulating pale limbs as she speaks to do just that, Regina frowns nervously as she keeps the younger woman pushed gently down.
"What on earth are you on about, dear."
"I can't... I couldn't... She wanted me to, but-"
"-She wanted you to do what? Emma? What did she want you to do?!"
Despite her previous warning to stay down, the brunette pulls at the blonde's shoulder firmly so as to assess distraught features properly. Eyes widening when the latter simply lets out a racked sob, she acts on impulse; pulling the younger woman into her and stroking long curls warily as she shushes her in way similar to how she used to do Henry.
"Stop this now, you're alright."
Her words are tinged with a slight inflection as her mind races with hateful images of just what could have happened to get the Sheriff into the state she's in. Waiting for Emma's trembling to die down, Regina speaks to her softly, tightening her embrace subconsciously as she becomes aware of the clammy chill emanating from the blonde.
She can't keep walking around like this, she'll catch her death in cold.
"Tell me what happened."
Dark eyes widen as the Sheriff proceeds to retell of her ordeal with the shark. The blonde seems to falter slightly towards the end- her tone becoming a little more reminiscent of its usual self- and the brunette wonders if she now feels that her tale isn't worth the fuss she's making out.
She decides such stupidity would be just like Emma.
"It's alright, dear, you're alright... In a way I am glad that you witnessed such cruelty, however horrific it must have been... My warnings were not just empty threats, Miss Swan... A valuable lesson, if not a pleasant one... Rather the shark than yourself."
"... Thank you."
It is an odd response, but neither woman is lacking in understanding of just what the blonde refers to. Shrugging, and moving briskly away from the Sheriff now that she seems to have pulled herself together somewhat, the brunette surveys her critically; not at all in favour of the way pale skin remains dappled with gooseflesh and soft lips are tinged lightly blue. Pulling at the throw that lines the base of the large bed, she drapes it over the younger woman's bare shoulders in a businesslike fashion, despite admonishing her softly.
"You really shouldn't be up here, dear."
Green eyes regard her balefully and she sighs, brow creasing as she strives towards something more to say.
"Look... If I had known it would so quickly get to this point...That is would get to this point at all..."
"It was our only option. You said so yourself."
"I did... But-"
"-Henry needs us. I don't regret anything... Not if you said it was the only way."
"That's... Trusting of you, Sheriff..."
"I suppose so... Fortunately I happen to know I'm right to do so."
"Oh? What makes you so sure?"
"Are you really going to keep trying to bait me with questions like that? You've done more for me and Mary Margaret over here than most people have ever done for me my whole life... Couple that with the fact you can't stand me and I'd say you've proven yourself quite a valuable ally."
"Not just the evil Queen."
"I already told you what I think of that."
"Quite..."
Sniffing arrogantly as she casts her gaze down to the fabric of her sleeve, Regina almost allows herself to relax a little before a sharp knock beats at the door. Glancing at the younger woman with sudden naked fear, she imagines her own apprehension is topped only by the terror written clearly across the blonde's face.
"Hide. Now!"
Pulling the throw from the Sheriff hurriedly as she whispers, she watches with troubled eyes as Emma disappears into the depths of her closet in a pale flash of bare flesh; stumbling slightly in her haste.
"Coming."
Her voice is rich, and she prays she sounds just as always, despite the harsh clench of her jaw and the cold nervousness working its way to the pit of her stomach. Stalking towards the door, she barely touches the handle before the heavy wood is pulled aside and the Sea Queen smiles at her viciously; all teeth.