Title: Look After You
Chapter Thirty-Seven: Complicated
Author: snarkysweetness
Rating: PG-13
Characters: Emma & Regina; Emma/August
Summary: Regina gets on Emma's case about finding Kathryn and about August.
Warnings: Bitchiness.
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Author's Notes: I've been slow on the posting because I keep adding stuff in and adding more chapters and making notes and the story's been a mess for a while but I spent the week cleaning it all up, so expect more regular updates. Note to the wife: no one more allowing me to overanalyze the first season. That nonsense needs to stop.
Emma let out a deep, slow sigh. While her gut told her that David had nothing to do with Kathryn's disappearance, the phone records sitting on her desk showed a different story. According to them he'd spoken to her an hour before she went missing, long after he claimed to have seen or spoken to her last, and it was an eight-minute call, an entire conversation.
She knew Sidney had to be right, phone records didn't lie, people did, but she couldn't shake off the feeling that David was innocent. On the other hand, she knew she couldn't ignore the facts.
Emma leaned back in her chair and closed her eyes. She knew what she was required to do as Sheriff, but it didn't mean she liked it. This sucked. She knew David was telling the truth, but if Regina got wind of this…
She grabbed her highlighter and marked the call from David, staring down at it as if she'd suddenly find the answers she'd been seeking through the pink ink. She popped the cap off with her fingers before pushing it back down and repeated the gesture while she contemplated her next move.
Emma heard Regina long before she came into view and didn't bother to look up to acknowledge her. Her day had been hard enough without Regina making it worse.
"If this is about the black-out, I've got the guys from the power company down there and they're working on it."
"That's not why I'm here."
Emma glanced up, curious.
"It's been twenty-four hours since my friend Kathryn went missing, have you found anything?"
Emma's bullshit detector went off immediately, making her eye twitch. For Henry's sake, Emma fought the urge to call Regina on her lie. The kid had to deal with enough crap and besides, if she ever wanted to see him, she needed to stay on Regina's good side.
"I found something; I just don't know what it means."
"Well what is it?"
Emma studied Regina and every bone in her body screamed that Regina was up to something. Regina had to be kidding herself if she thought Emma was stupid enough to give her details on the case.
"At this point in the investigation it's best I don't divulge that information."
"If you're covering for someone…" There it was. Emma wasn't sure what it was, but Regina was definitely up to something. "If you're not doing your job, Sheriff Swan…" Emma resisted the urge to roll her eyes. Regina only called her 'Sheriff' when she wanted something. "I'll find someone who will."
Ah, there it was. Regina was trying to get her fired. Emma wasn't sure why she was surprised. She'd be extra careful to cover all of her bases on this case, just so Regina had no room to accuse Emma of misconduct or some other crap.
Emma watched as Regina left and shook her head, reaching for her coffee.
She really needed that drink with August later, but…
Emma glanced up as the click of Regina's heels came closer once more.
"And another thing, Miss Swan," there it was, "the next time I ask you to investigate someone on Henry's behalf, try not to seduce him instead. Though, I should say, I'm not surprised."
Keeping her mouth shut for the kid was one thing, but this?
"What bothers you more, Madam Mayor? That there's a Sheriff in office who won't sleep with you or that I have an attractive man in my bed while yours remains empty?"
Regina sent a glare Emma's way that would have terrified most people but not Emma. Emma just lifted an eyebrow in response as if to say 'bring it'.
"Just keep him away from my son."