CHAPTER 25

NOTES: TRIGGER – MENTION OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.

Five days. Regina was barely eating. She tried to runaway twice and after the second time – he hit her. He said he felt horrible and cradled her in his arms and kissed her face. He begged her to stop trying to run because he didn't want to hurt her. He kept telling Regina he loved her. Graham was a sick monster. She cried herself to sleep every night and she could tell he was getting angrier as each day passed. She had no clue where her phone was and she was afraid to snoop because she didn't want to make him upset. On this day – the fifth day; she wanted to run again. But, she was afraid. He was a time bomb ready to explode and she had no idea what he would do next. She took a shower and changed her clothes after breakfast and looked in the mirror. Her cheek was severely bruised and already changing colors. She had bags under her eyes and she was pale. Regina couldn't remember the last time she'd looked so horrible. She walked into the kitchen and Graham had his head in his hands. She could tell he was starting to lose it too. He looked up and his face changed "Your cheek," he said softly. "We should put ice on that." She sat on the sofa and he gently placed an ice pack on her face. She winced slightly and pulled her into his arms "Are you alright," he asked.

"I'll live," she replied.

"I wish you'd stop running," he said.

"I'll never stop."

"You will. If you don't I'll go after Robin. You know I'm capable."

"I'll never stop," she repeated.

"Regina why are you making this so difficult," he asked.

"I have a life. I have a man I love and a little boy I adore and I miss my friends. Just take me home please," she begged.

"It's too late for that."

"It's never too late," she replied. They sat in silence for several minutes. Regina grew tired and her eyes were getting heavy. She hadn't slept well the past few days. She yawned "I'm tired."

"Do you want to go back to bed?"

"I think so," she replied.

She stood up and was several steps in front of him and that's when she heard a car door slam "What the hell was that," he asked. She didn't hesitate for a second. Regina smacked Graham as hard as she could with the ice pack across the face. He screamed and she high-tailed it toward the door. He grabbed her around the waist and pulled her down but she fought and elbowed him in the nose. She heard the sick crack of his nose breaking and blood poured down his face. She got up as fast as she could and ran straight out of the cabin. They were surrounded by police cruisers. Regina found Emma's face in the crowd and ran right to her. She couldn't even cry. She let Emma hold her and watched as Graham came out of the cabin with his hands raised in the air. David was already cuffing him and reading him his rights. Regina watched as Graham screamed and told her he loved her and that this wasn't over. She would be his. Emma stroked her hair and kissed her face and tears were rolling down her cheeks. Regina smiled and said "I'm okay Em." But Emma couldn't help the sobs that erupted as she hugged her best friend again. It was over and Graham was going away for a long time.

They drove her to a nearby hospital and insisted she get checked out. Emma called Robin immediately and told him once they were back in town she'd call and he could pick her up at the police station. He wanted to talk to Regina but she was getting examined by the ER doctor. She explained that he should get some rest because it was apparent Regina hadn't had much sleep the past few days. He said he would try. Regina slept on and off in the back seat of the car. She kept asking about Robin and Emma told her that he was a complete wreck but that once he heard she was safe he felt better. She couldn't stop thinking about him. She wanted to be in his arms again. She had seriously thought that she'd never see him again and that made her stomach turn. God, he was it for her and this proved it. She couldn't turn her brain off and finally at nine o'clock they pulled into the police station parking lot. Regina saw Robin's car and once the cruiser was parked – she was out and running inside. Mary and Robin were sitting in the office and when she busted in and yelled his name he was up and out of his seat and lifting her into his arms – that's when the tears began to fall. She was crying; he was crying. He was telling her he loved her and she was sobbing as she wrapped her legs around his waist. He kissed her face and she winced slightly. He placed her down on the bench and moved her hair out of her face – that's when he saw the bruise "That bastard," he whispered.

Mary sat on the other side of Regina and they hugged "We were so worried," she said.

"I'm okay. Truly I am. I'm so tired. I haven't slept much the past few days."

David and Emma were now inside and listening "Take her home Robin. We'll need you to come back tomorrow to give your statement," David said. They all hugged again and Robin took her hand.

Emma watched as they walked outside and she turned to David "Are you ready to nail this asshole and throw the book at him?"

"Yeah, let's go get him," he said as they headed into the interrogation room.

The first thing Regina wanted to do was take a bath. Robin left her alone and then got her pajamas and put them on the sink. She had her eyes closed "Babe do you want to get out?"

She opened her eyes and smiled at him "I'll be out in a few minutes," she said.

"No rush," he said as he went out to the bedroom. Robin changed into boxer shorts and a white tank top and got into bed. He wasn't sure how Regina was going to be affected by all this and he was unsure of how to act. He'd have to wait and see. She came out about ten minutes later "Do you feel better?"

"Much better," she said. She got into bed and sat back against the headboard "I need to tell you a few things."

"Regina it can wait until the morning," he said.

"No, I need to get this off my chest now," she whispered.

He took her hand "Alright. Take your time," he said.

She turned toward him "I had a plan to get out of there. I was trying to play his game but it was tricky. I knew if I wasn't careful I'd make him angry. I thought if I could fake an illness he'd take me to a hospital and I could escape somehow. It didn't work. He didn't buy it. I had to do some things with him to make him trust me and . . . I felt sick doing it but I had no choice." Tears began to spill down her face and Robin wiped them away. "I kissed him and then after a few minutes of that; I grabbed my side but he knew. I don't know how but he knew I was faking."

"Why did he hit you?"

"I tried to run twice while he was in the bathroom. After the second time – he hit me because I'd gotten away for about an hour. I hid in the woods but he found me. He was so angry. Then, after he hit me he cried and told me he was sorry and that he loved me. He kept apologizing over and over again. He admitted to burning the building down. He wanted to kill you Robin. I'm so sorry. It's all my fault . . ." She began to cry and he held her in his arms. Robin kissed her forehead and whispered in her ear that it was not her fault. Graham is sick and deranged and she did nothing wrong. She couldn't stop crying and finally after a few minutes of him running his fingers through her hair; her sobs subsided and they lay down together. She snuggled into his arms and he begged her to try and sleep. She asked about her store and he told her everything was fine and that Tink would be glad that she's home and safe. He promised to go with her to the station in the morning and if she wanted they could go to the store. Regina began to drift off and even though Robin was tired he couldn't fall asleep – he was angry. Graham was lucky he was behind bars. He'd regret the day he ever laid a hand on Regina. But Robin knew that sick bastard would never see the light of day again – he was going away for a long time.