Chapter Sixteen: Tender Care
Emma woke up in an empty bed. Still, in her sleep, she turned around to hold Regina, but her arms were met with air. She popped one eye open and then the other only to state the obvious. She was indeed alone. Emma stretched herself in bed, feeling her muscles sore in the most delicious away. She felt how sticky she was between her legs and that made her feel horny all over again. God, why wasn't Regina in bed? They could have such a nice physical morning. Emma thought about getting off of the bed and find her, but, it was cold outside the sheets. The bed was so soft and warm and it smelt like sex and Regina and she just couldn't bring herself to leave, which was, a very, very smart decision as it didn't take long before she heard the door being open with Regina caring a tray inside the room.
"Why are you awake?" Regina asked.
"You left the bed. Is that breakfast?" Emma said.
"Yes! It was supposed to be a surprised"
"I am surprised," Emma said grinning " But hold on, go outside and enter again while I pretend to sleep"
"You are such a child," Regina said smiling as she sat down in bed next to Emma "Come on, sit down so I can place the tray on your lap"
Emma sat down in bed, with the sheet hanging below her waist. Regina gasped at the sight of Emma's bare breast and that tiny gasp alone brought a whole new wave of warmth and aroused that spread through Emma's body like a hurricane.
"You know, I'm a very clumsy eater," Emma said, " Can you lick it clean if I get dirty?"
Regina looked at Emma, her eyes darker than usual, her lower lip trap between her teeth. She stuck one finger inside the jam on the tray taking a good amount on her finger and spread on Emma's nipple. Emma finched, at first, with the cold jam on her but then. She looked back at Regina and that warmth wave spread all over her body again.
"Ops" Regina said, looking very innocent at Emma.
"Now you have to lick it clean," Emma said completely aroused.
Regina bent down slightly in bed, taking Emma's already hard nipple inside her luscious mouth. She sucked and licked it Emma felt her head getting dizzy. She wanted to throw away that tray and take Regina right there and then. She was about to do just that when she heard Regina's voice saying:
"There! All clean"
"I should get dirty more often," Emma said.
"You definitely should," Regina said back "Now, covered them, please. They are too distracting! I was trying to be romantic with the whole breakfast in bed thing"
"I like this version of breakfast in bed. We should do it every morning"
"Every morning, hun?"
"Yeah," Emma said grinning "Every morning."
Regina smiled back at Emma, moving to hold up the tray on Emma's lap. Emma pulled the sheet up covering her breast and the pair started to eat the delicious breakfast Regina made them. Once they were both satisfied, Regina took the tray off Emma and laid down on top of her, capturing her lips on a kiss. Her hands wandered down to her breast squeezing them firmly, making Emma moaned out loud.
"Now these…" Regina said breaking the kiss, palming Emma's breast "These are glorious"
"Oh, fuck, Regina!" Emma moaned.
Regina captured one of her breasts in her mouth, strongly sucking the nipple in her mouth while massaging the other. She moaned in Emma's breast, making a rush of wetness run down her already sticky inner thigh. Regina was just licking her way to Emma's other breast when a loud phone sound echoed through the room.
"Turn it off," Emma said gasping.
"It's not mine," Regina said back.
"Just ignore it. Keeping going" Emma said.
Regina captured Emma's other nipple in her mouth, Emma's hand flew to her head, silently asking her to suck harder. Regina understood her request and sucked it harder, before releasing it with a soft pop. She used the tip of her tongue to circulate around it, making Emma feel even more lost at the sensation on her skin. So much that she didn't even hear her phone ring again until Regina took her mouth off of her and said:
"Answer your phone"
"W-what?" Emma asked confuse.
"Your phone is ringing," Regina said back.
"Again? Fuck!"
Emma pulled the sheet off of her and stand up looking for her phone on the floor. She finally managed to find her pants and fished the phone from her pocket answering with an angry WHAT?. As she heard the voice on the other line Emma scratched her forehead knowing that her beautiful morning with Regina was over. She looked at her apologetically, before turning off the phone.
"What happened?" Regina asked.
"I am so sorry," Emma said gathering her clothes " But I have to go. There was some sort of incident at the miner, someone is trapped inside those old tunnels"
"Oh my God" Regina said, "I don't think I want you to go there."
"It's my job," Emma said grinning "I'm the Sheriff remember?"
"Yeah, I know! Just, be careful okay?"
"I always am"
Emma leaned in and kissed Regina before leaving the room. She jogged to her bug and drove as fast as she could to the miner. When she arrived, David was already at the scene, a few people standing around the tunnel entrance.
"What the hell happened?" Emma asked.
"Its Archie. Two people saw him running inside the tunnels. They said he was chasing Pongo" David said.
"Fuckinf hell," Emma said, "We need to isolate the area,".
"I'm already on it!" David said showing Emma the Crime Scene tape.
"Why are there so many people here," Emma asked.
"They heard the noise and came to see what it was. Didn't you hear it? It even made the ground shake. I thought it was an earthquake"
"No, I was…distracted this morning," Emma said.
"Distracted?" David asked.
"Yes! Can you please put on the isolation cord? We need to get these people out of here" Emma said.
Emma watched as the place got crowded and crowed with people. David put on the cord and screamed for people to stay back, but they didn't seem to pay too much attention to him. When the mayor arrived with the blueprints of the miner, Emma splashed them on top of her bug, trying to figure out the best way to rescue Archie. As the mayor made a speech to the people standing around, Emma couldn't help but feel a little annoyed by the woman. She was supposed to help to get them out to their home where it was safe, not perk their curiosity.
"Sheriff. A word, please" A voice said behind Emma.
"Madam Mayor" Emma greeted.
"So, what's the plan to rescue the shrink," Mary Margaret asked.
"I'm waiting for the fire department to get here, to seek out the best strategy"
"I can not have this man dying in there," Mary Margaret said "It would be terrible for reelection"
"Im sure some things are more important than that" Emma said feeling uncomfortable.
"Of course, honey. But.." Mary Margaret pushed Emma to the side on a walk " You know the Sheriff is pointed by the Mayor's office right? And we wouldn't want any destitution if something happened to dear old Archie"
"What are you saying?" Emma asked.
"I'm saying, we should blow up the entrance"
"What?" Emma asked, " This is too dangerous, we don't even know where he is in there."
"Well, then we make sure to blow the rocks to the outside, not the inside" Mary Margaret said "Marco! Come here! Tell the Sheriff what you just told me"
The old man approached Emma and told him about his plan. Emma listened carefully to what he said, feeling annoyed at Mayor breathing down her neck. Emma never liked to feel pressured like that. She knew for a long time that the mayor was only looking for an excuse to put her husband in charge of the Sheriff's department, and, as much as Emma liked David, some things she just couldn't let it slide.
"Madam Mayor, this is risky. I can't allow you to do that" Emma said.
"Good thing you don't have to. Marco, you have my authorization" The Mayor said.
"Madam Mayor…" Emma started to say.
"Its done, Sheriff. We are blowing off the entrance"
Everything happened too fast before Emma's eyes. Marco and his team put on explosives on the rocks blocking the miner. Emma and David tried to push everyone back. Emma was worried about this action. There was no time to study the damage the explosives would cause or where the man was located inside the miner. She should have used her Sheriff's authority to stop this. And that's exactly what she was going to do, as she turned around to walk to where the Mayor and her team was. She was just approaching them when a bang echoed on her ears with rocks flying around. Emma fell down on her knee, covering her head to protect herself. She felt sharp pangs of pain as the rocks hit her body. One, in particular, cut her hand and Emma felt hot liquid running down her arm.
"Emma" David screamed.
"What the fuck was that?" Emma said standing up from the ground.
"What the hell were you doing" Mary Margareth screamed at Emma.
"Me?" Emma screamed back "What the fuck was that? You could have killed me"
"Oh, stopped it," Maru Margaret said "It's just a scratch"
"Emma, are you okay?" David asked.
"Fine!" Emma said rudely.
Marco screamed at them saying they got an opening. It wasn't big enough for a person to get in but they could see the inside of the miner. Emma took the front calling out Archie's name. They heard a bark from the dog and Enna started to removed the remaining rocks. Everyone around helped and soon, the hole was big enough for a person to go through. Emma took off her jacket ready to get inside when the Mayor said:
"I think David should go inside"
"I'm the one who's going in," Emma said firmly.
"Emma, you are hurt," David said.
"Stand out, Sheriff," The Mayor said.
"I'm the one who is going in," Emma said and looked at David " Have the ambulance ready, Deputy"
Emma climbed up a few rocks and squeezed herself inside the miner. She was pissed! That damn woman put everyone's lives in danger. How the hell did someone like that got elected? Emma certainly didn't vote for her. Emma was pulled out of her thoughts by the increasing sound of Pongo's bark. Emma ran in the direction of the sound where she found Archie unconscious, on the floor with a big cut in his head. Emma knew that had happened because of the explosion and that only made her angrier with the Mayor. She bent down to lift him, putting all on his weight on her body. She carried him thought the patch she had just walk, Pongo walking right behind them. When Emma got closer to the entrance, she screamed for help. She saw David's face on the hole and together they worked on getting Archie's off the miner. The ground shook again and Emma was positive that thing was going to collapse any minute. Once Archie was safe outside, Emma passed trough and ran just in time as the rocks collapsed behind her.
After that, everything happened in a rush. Archie was put inside an ambulance and rushed to the hospital. A couple of paramedics came to Emma's aid to check on her hand injury. They told her she needed to go to the hospital because her hand needed stitches but Emma refused it. There was a lot that needed to be done at the scene. They kept on insisting and David stepped in, telling Emma that he had it under control. It took Emma a lot of convincing before she finally gave up and got inside the ambulance to go to the hospital.
Once in there, Emma was agitated with the need to go away. She hated hospitals. Always have. Ever since she was a little girl. She hated being in there all alone, it hit to close to home. It reminded her of her childhood, the feeling of being helpless, unprotected, uncared for. She just wanted to have her hand patched up to get the fuck out ASAP.
"How long is that going to take, Whale?" Emma asked "I have things to do"
"So do I, Sheriff. Trust me, you are not one of the pleasants" He said.
"Hilarious" Emma said back " Can you just hurry up, please?"
"Do you want to get a scar? Because that whats gonna happen if you keep on hurrying me"
Emma rolled her eyes and stayed quiet. She hated this. She really, really hated this. Emma looked down as a small child would and stood still. She finched a couple of times with pain, but other than that, she didn't say anything. She looked up and made a small prayer for this to be over with when suddenly a voice coming from the door startled her.
"Emma?"
"Regina?" Emma said, "What are you doing here?"
"David called me. He told me what happened. Are you okay?"
Regina ran to her side, running her hand through Emma's face. The gesture alone made Emma's heart swell and she had to hold back a tear. She closed her eyes and let her head fall onto Regina's side, her hands wrapped around her head. She gave Emma's hair a kiss that brought a smile on Emma's face.
"I am now" Emma answered Regina after a long time.
"That doesn't look pretty," Regina said.
"It's just a scratch," Emma said back
"A five stitches scratch, that is." The doc quipped "Hi, I'm Dr. Whale" He said looking at Regina.
"Hi, I'm Regina"
"She's my girlfriend, so, back the hell off," Emma said half playfully at him.
"Right, back to work," He said.
"Why didn't you call me when you came to the hospital?" Regina asked.
"I don't know, I…I never call anyone when I go to the hospital, I guess."
"Do you know how worried I was when David called me?" Regina asked.
"I'm sorry," Emma said sincerely "I won't happen again"
"Damn right it won't," Regina said "I don't wanna see you in one of those again"
"You won't" Emma smiled up at her.
"Im gonna give you a shot now and you are ready to go"
Dr. Whale said and took a big syringe. When Emma saw the size of it she immediately remembered her childhood again and took a big breath. Regina must have noticed the change, maybe because Emma's body went rigid, maybe because her eyes were so big looking at it, but she instantly held Emma closer to her body and kissed her forehead and Emma was once again lost on Regina. Her scent, her warmth, her closeness was everything Emma needed, and dint even knew, so much that Whale gave her the shot and Emma didn't even felt it.
"All done," He said.
"Can I go now?"
"Yep. You are clear to go." He said and looked at Regina "I'm gonna give you a prescription for painkillers and remember she cant have hand wet"
"Thank you, doctor," Regina said back at him.
"Okay. Here you go" Whale gave Regina the prescription "I hope I don't see you anytime soon Sheriff"
"Same here, Doc," Emma said back.
Emma got up from the gurney she was sitting in and put on her jacket. Regina took her good hand between hers and they walked out of the hospital together. She opened the door for Emma to get inside the car and closed before going around and getting in herself. Regina drove straight to the pharmacy and bought Emma's painkiller and then she drove straight to her house. Emma was confused by that. What were they doing in the manor? Shouldn't Regina drive her home? What were they doing here? Regina left the car leaving a very confused Emma inside. She opened the door for her and held her good hand again, pulling Emma with her inside the house.
"What are we doing here?" Emma asked.
"What you mean?" Regina asked back.
"Shouldn't you drive me home?"
"I brought you here so I can take care of you," Regina said " Oh my God, Emma. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have assumed. I should have asked you first"
"No, it's okay…"
"I can drive you home right now…"
"I don't wanna go home!" Emma said firmly "I'm just not used to this…I was confused"
"Used to what?" Regina asked.
"Being cared for" Emma said shyly
"Well," Regina said pecking her lips "Get used to it"
Regina held Emma's hand again taking her up to the bathroom. Once inside she told Emma she was going to draw her a bath. Emma was really, really dirty. Regina disappeared inside the suite and Emma sat down on the edge of the bed. She didn't want to get it dirty. She looked to the bed and remembered how good their morning had started and it brought a smile to her face. She meant it when she said she wanted every morning to start like that. She wanted to wake up with Regina. Every morning of every day. It was curious to Emma how foreigner those feelings always were to her, and yet, they seemed to come effortless when it came to Regina. It scared her. It scared her to the core. And yet, she couldn't wait to experience it. Regina came out of the suite and told Emma the bath was ready. Emma got up and walked to the bathroom, stopping by the door.
"Can you call Elsa? Let her know that I'm here and okay?" Emma asked.
"Of course. Do you need help striping?"
"I'll always need your help for that" Emma said grinning.
"Good answer. But I meant it, Emma" Regina said seriously "Can you wait until I call her?"
"I think I can manage," Emma said and tried to pull out her jacket "Okay, I can not manage"
"Come on. Let's take a bath. I'll call her once we are done"
They walked together to the bathroom. Regina gently removed Emma's clothes. She slowly took off Emma's jacket her eyes widening at the sight of the bruises on Emma's arm. She asked Emma to lift up her arms and then pulled her tank top above her head. She reached behind, unclasping her bra, gently removing them as well. Then, Regina bent down on her knees and opened Emma's pants. Emma used her good hand to support herself on Regina's shoulder and she pulled the jeans Emma's body. One leg and then the other. Last was Emma's panties. When she was completely naked, Regina helped her in the tub, warning her about not wetting the hand. Emma got in, feeling the warm water envelope her body. She closed her eyes and stayed there just enjoying the water unaware of her surroundings.
"Move," Regina said.
Emma opened her eyes, only to see a very, very naked Regina standing right in front of her. Emma was motionless, just staring at her girlfriend's beautiful body. Regina was perfect. Everything about her was so perfect. It took Emma a while to register the request but when she finally did, she slid a bit to the front to give Regina space to get in behind her. When Regina settled behind her, Emma rested her body on hers. The feeling of Regina's breast pressing on her back made Emma's whole body shivered. They stayed quiet for a few minutes, just enjoying each other until Regina asked Emma to move a little. She took a loofah and gently started to wash Emma's body. Emma closed her eyes just enjoying the sensation of being cared for by this woman. Regina asked her what happened and Emma told her everything. Once she was done telling the tale she heard Regina's voice saying:
"I knew I had reasons to dislike that woman"
"Tell me about it"
"Who made her mayor anyway?"
"I don't know. I never voted for her."
"I should run against her on the next election"
"Well, you have my vote," Emma said smiling at her.
"Thank you, dear" Regina smirked.
"Wait, if you win, you'd be my boss"
"I know. Isn't that great?"
"Oh Yeah! I never did it at the mayor's office" Emma said playfully.
"Haha hilarious," Regina said back "Me neither"
They both laughed, Emma's whole body relaxed at the easy conversation. Regina continued to wash Emma's body, kissing the purple marks that were starting to show up on her body. By the time they were done, the water was already getting cold. Regina got off the bath first toweling herself before helping Emma out. She gently dried Emma's and asked her to wait while she got her something to wear. When she came back, she gave Emma a new pair of underwear and an oversize shirt. Regina changed into yoga pants and a tank top and Emma couldn't help but stare at the nice round bump she had. Regina caught her staring and rolled her eyes playfully at her. They both went to the kitchen where Regina made an easy dinner for them both. Emma's hand bothered her and Regina gave her one of the painkillers. The medicine made Emma feel a little groggy and Regina told Emma to go upstairs. She asked for Elsa's number before disappearing into the study.
Emma laid down in bed and tried to stay awake, but the painkiller was doing a number on her. She wanted to wait for Regina to come to bed, she didn't want to sleep there all alone, but, she also knew it was still fairly earlier and that Regina probably had better things to do. Emma kept on fighting the battle against her sleep when she heard the door being open. Regina laid down in bed next to her. Emma wrapped her body around her and breathed in Regina's perfect smell, resting her head between her breast, and soon she was sound asleep.