There's a steady rhythm, swooshing and thumping in the faint distance, but she cannot place the sound, especially when her head is pounding with a type of vengeance against her temples that has her pleading for death. She's uneasy, her stomach swirling around an acidic liquid that's scorching her intestines and has her mouth salivating.
On their own accord, her hands fling out in front of her, her muscles screaming their protest and aching in ways she never thought imaginable as she tries to identify her surroundings. Her eyelids are far too heavy and refuse to budge and that's when she remembers, she's not hungover, she was in some sort of accident.
She pleads with her body to cooperate, begging for those eyelids to peel apart and locate her surroundings. Her eyelashes are barely tearing apart when she feels that fiery liquid crawling hazardously up her throat. Her vision is blurry, but she immediately identifies the cool handle to the right. She yanks and tugs in desperation, but the door won't budge, so she quickly leans to her left and vomits all over the floor of the driver's side. She heaves and coughs and gasps for her next breath and in the back of her mind, her detective skills are ringing loudly, acknowledging that Bae is gone and the driver's door is hanging open.
She wipes her mouth with the sleeve of her jacket and closes her eyes for a moment because the intensity of her migraine is what's causing her to feel so queasy. She falls back into her seat, knowing she needs to exit the car and find the suspect who is now on foot. She peels her eyes open again, and quickly reaches over to turn the obnoxious windshield wipers off. She glances to her right and locates an enormous evergreen smashed into the back end of her car and that's probably why her door won't budge.
She slowly moves, every inch of her body screaming bloody murder for her to stop, but she ignores her muscles and crawls across the console, through the driver's side and out the door that's hanging open. The air is bitter cold, stinging against her face and causing her to shiver violently. She places her hands on her knees for a moment to catch her bearings and breathe through the pain and that's when she hears sirens blaring off in the distance.
She hasn't the slightest idea as to what happened, or how they ended up in a car accident. She has no clue how long she has been passed out for or how long Bae has been on foot, but she knows she needs to run and track him down. She sniffles away her leaky nose from the winter air and attempts to stand tall. She groans as she pivots and takes a step toward the back end of her car, her poor demolished car, and that's when she spots taillights from another vehicle, across the street.
She takes a deep breath and forces her body to shuffle toward the other car, wondering if the person inside is alright. She assumes this person is the reason for the accident to begin with, probably some drunk asshole that lost control behind the wheel, but she's so thankful for their stupidity in the moment. She has no idea what Bae had planned for her and if it weren't for this person, today might have been her last day on this planet.
All those thoughts are suddenly crippling in her mind when she notices the back end of a black Mercedes Benz. She swallows that tangy bile once again and unexpectedly, a rush of adrenaline surges through her blood and she's running toward the car.
"Fuck, fuck, fuck," she mutters to herself when she sees how badly the front end of the car is smashed in and she discovers Regina out cold against the steering wheel.
She yanks open the driver's door in a haste, her entire body quivering in fear of losing another loved one. "Regina," she chokes out, bending down so she can run her fingers through her girlfriend's hair to inspect her hidden face.
Very carefully, Emma guides Regina's body away from the steering wheel to rest against the seat and she finds herself asking again, why her girlfriend has such an old car that doesn't have an airbag? She immediately locates bruising around Regina's nose and beneath her sleeping eyes, but she can't find any other physical trauma.
"Regina, please," she says loud enough to cut through the fog in her girlfriend's mind, but Regina doesn't respond in any way, not even a gentle flutter of her eyelashes.
She sweeps the dark locks out of Regina's face and places her finger beneath her nose to check if she's still breathing. The puffs of air are faint and slow, but they do exist and Emma sighs in relief. She cradles Regina's face in her cold hands and sweeps her thumbs against the flushed cheeks.
"Regina, come on, please wake up. I need you to wake up for Henry," she begs, while those sirens off in the distant are becoming more distinct, agitating her pulsating temples. "Regina, wake up," she says more firmly, but there's a wobble in her voice and her vision is blurring all over again from the stinging liquid clinging to her eyes. "Please," she cries, desperately trying to keep her emotions in check for Regina's sake, even if she is unconscious at the moment.
Somewhere in the back of her mind, she registers the blaring sirens along with heavy foot stomps and chatter, but she's too invested in Regina's well-being to pay any attention. In the jumbled up thoughts in her mind, she faintly hears someone calling her name, but she's hopelessly holding on to her loved one, begging to any higher power that they won't take Regina away from her.
She won't survive another loss.
"Detective Swan," a woman sternly repeats, "I need you to step back."
"No, no, I need-" she's stammering, so unsure of what she's trying to say or do in the moment, but she knows her body needs to be near Regina.
"What you need is to step back," the unknown woman strictly orders. "We need to do our job and get her to the hospital."
"I know," she chokes on a sob, her eyes leaking her tears of desperation and misery as someone gently pulls her away from her loved one.
"Swan. Swan." She watches intently as a team of paramedics carefully extract Regina from the car and place her onto a gurney. "Swan, come on, you need to get checked out."
"I'm fine," she mindlessly mutters, her eyes focusing on her girlfriend and the way these strangers are handling her.
But then there's a warmth enveloping her and there's a familiar scent of cologne and she realizes Killian is holding her close.
"You're not fine, Swan. Your head is gushing blood, there's vomit on your jacket, your face is leaking all kinds of liquid."
"I'm fine," she vacantly repeats against his cold leather jacket, but he's shaking his head and guiding her toward an ambulance. "No, no," she stammers, struggling to fight him away. "I need to stay with Regina. I need to know she's alright. She can't...I can't..." she breaks down completely, sobbing as she struggles against Killian's hold.
"Swan, please, you need to get checked out," he pleads, just as another man steps forward to guide her into one of the trucks.
"No, please let me ride with her. I'm fine. I swear," she hysterically implores, but the men aren't surrendering.
"Ma'am, please, you must have a concussion by the size of that gash," the paramedic states, fighting with her flailing body to enter the ambulance.
"No, no. I need Regina. I need to-to..."
"The best thing for Regina right now, is for you to allow her some peace so the paramedics can do their job," the stranger sternly says to reach inside the logical part of her brain and convince her to calm down.
She blinks away the thick tears clinging to her eyelashes and nods slowly. She allows Killian to help her into the ambulance and before she can comprehend what is occurring around her, there are three paramedics surrounding her and working diligently. She watches as the doors of the ambulance truck slam shut, forcing her head to fall back against a gurney and she cries silently for Regina, pleading that her girlfriend will pull through.
XXXX
Killian rode in the back of the ambulance with her to the hospital, distracting her from a full-blown panic attack over her girlfriend, by filling her in on the case. He explained that Gold and Belle were clueless about their sons' schemes and Gold was just trying to offer his son a steady job, knowing he failed out of college. Gideon did in fact, trade his brother's name and information regarding the pop-up businesses to save his own ass. Turns out they arrested Michael Darling as well, and he too gave up Bae's name, also providing more information about Bae's involvement with smuggling illegal drugs.
Killian also explained that Bae fled the scene of the accident on foot and he was sure the man would be caught soon, since the entire team was out looking for the man in the woods as they spoke.
The moment Emma was wheeled into the hospital, she was fighting with everyone around her to see Regina. She begged and pleaded for them to be in the same room, but every doctor refused her request. Since her trusty bug was as old as dirt, there weren't any airbags, which resulted in Emma's head colliding with the windshield and her suffering from a concussion. Her body was banged up and bruised all over, even a seatbelt burn across her chest, but thankfully, nothing was broken during the collision.
The doctors had suggested that she stay in the hospital overnight for observations, but she declined the medical attention just so she could sit in Regina's room. She figured if anything were to happen, she would be surrounded by doctors and nurses.
So, after three hours of exams, tests and some much needed pain killers, she is finally on her way to Regina's room. Killian has been keeping her informed on her girlfriend's status the entire time, but so far nothing has changed. Regina is still unconscious from the impact, but Emma can't help but worry that there's something more behind her condition because how is she up and walking around and Regina is not?
She gently eases the door open, stepping into a dimly lit room with four people tucked away inside. She swallows down her nerves, offers a lopsided smile that pretty much resembles a grimace and closes the door behind her. She feels like she fell into a frozen river, her entire body immobilizing; she can't think, she can't breathe, she can't possibly formulate words when all eyes are upon her.
"Emma," Robin is the first to speak, sounding as if she's trying out her real name and seeing how it feels against her tongue.
"Hey, Robin. How is she?" Emma tentatively asks, mentally urging her feet to move forward, but they seem to be weighted to the ground.
"She's still out, but the doctors said she should be waking up soon," the younger blonde informs her, so full of hope without any hint of worry in her tone, but that doesn't help settle the tension coiling deep within Emma's gut. "They already took her down for tests and there's nothing out of the normal. They believe it's trauma induced."
A woman with fiery red curls and blazing blue eyes, hastily steps forward with determination written all over her face. She invades Emma's personal space, her eyes locking onto defeated green as she snarls.
"My sister has never been so careless or reckless in her entire life," the redhead spits in disgust through a heavy British accent that throws Emma off balance for a moment. The woman scoffs, and Emma immediately drops her gaze to the ground below in shame. "I really hope you were worth it," she sarcastically quips and then exits the room, leaving Emma to drown in her own misery.
The little orphan inside is silently crying, just like she was trained to do. Was she worth it? Was her life worth Regina risking her own when she has so many people relying on her and Emma is a nobody?
"I'm gonna go get some snacks, I'll be back," Robin awkwardly announces before she rushes out the door after her mother.
Emma steals one breath of courage and shuffles across the room. She peeks over at the little boy, who is sitting in a chair that makes him appear so much smaller than he really is. Henry is holding his mother's hand and watching the rise and fall of her chest, ensuring his mind that his mother is still with him.
"Can I sit?" Emma asks, pointing to the chair on the opposite side of Regina's bed. Henry shrugs. She blows out a shaky breath and stiffly perches herself at the edge. "Henry, I'm really, really sorry, I had no idea she would do something like this-"
"Your name is Emma. You lied to me," he coldly interrupts her speech, his eyes never leaving his mother's chest.
"I know, kid, but I had no choice, I'm an undercover cop and I could have lost my job," she pleads for him to understand, but he's refusing to offer his attention. "Kid," she stresses, leaning across Regina's sleeping body and resting her hand on top of mother and son's conjoined hands. "It doesn't matter what my name is, I'm still me and your mom forgave me. Besides, it doesn't change the fact that I'm not the Savior and those stories aren't real."
"I know that now," he solemnly states, sounding just like his mother. "My life just sucks," he grumpily acknowledges under his breath.
"Yeah, so does mine, kid."
XXXX
Emma waits by Regina's bed, holding her hand like she did only a few days ago with Remy. She's numb from all the trauma and pain, but she can't find the strength to leave Regina's side. She's not quite sure how long she is there for, but eventually Zelena and Robin collect Henry and force him down to the cafeteria to eat dinner.
Henry stands from his chair, ever the petulant child, stomping and all as he crosses the room, but Emma suddenly stops him.
"Hey kid, come here," she instructs, waving him over to her chair. He sighs heavily, but he obediently listens to her, he always has. She's nervous, and so unsure of herself, so with shaky hands, she grabs his shoulders and looks him square in the eyes. "I-I'm so sorry that I lied to you, but I promise, I will never do it again. Just please," she breathlessly begs, her eyes filling with tears yet again, creating a frown upon Henry's face. "Please don't push me away, okay?"
"Okay," he whispers through a frown, inspiring Emma to pull him into a hug and she turns to mush when he nuzzles his cheek against her shoulder.
"She's gonna be okay."
"I know," he mutters, slowly pulling away from her embrace. He tilts his head to the side in consideration and points at the large bandage decorating the right side of her head. "Are you okay?"
"I'll be just fine, kid."
"Henry," Zelena calls out to him from the doorway.
"Go on. I'll call Robin if your mom wakes up, okay?" Emma promises, her trembling fingers reaching out to brush his messy hair out of his eyes just like his mother always does.
"Okay," he agrees, and then rushes off toward his aunt and cousin who are patiently waiting for him.
The minute the door closes, Regina is struggling to call out for her son. "Henry? Where's Henry?"
"Ssshhhh," Emma coos, scooting her chair closer toward Regina's bed and taking her hand. "He's fine. He's getting some dinner with Robin and your sister."
And Emma's about to call Regina's family back, but her girlfriend's head falls to the side and she falls right back asleep.
XXXX
After a half an hour, the family is back and everyone sits in silence waiting for Regina to wake up. Doctors and nurses drift in and out, some making small talk, some just accomplishing their daily routine wordlessly. One nurse even checks on Emma, knowing the severity of her concussion.
After another two hours of nothing happening, Zelena speaks up. "Emma, maybe you should go home and get some rest."
"I really shouldn't sleep," she plainly acknowledges, struggling to stay focused and awake. "But if you two would like to head home and get some rest, I'll be fine here with Henry. I need to stay up anyways."
Zelena glances at her daughter and Robin nods to whatever silent question her mother asked through her eyes. "Alright, Robin has an exam tomorrow and she needs her rest. Please call me if there is any change."
"Of course," Emma wholeheartedly agrees, watching as Zelena stiffly kisses her younger sister's head and then proceeds to do the same to Henry. And Emma remembers how Regina said they were never really close, but she did show up when their father passed away.
Robin follows in her mother's footsteps and then they are both gone.
"So..." Henry skeptically begins, eyeing Emma carefully. "You like, really love my mom?"
Emma breathes out a laugh through her nose. "Yeah, kid. I really do," she confesses, clenching Regina's hand even tighter between both of her clammy hands.
"Did you try kissing her? Maybe she will wake up with true love's kiss?" He so innocently recommends, persuading Emma's eyes to narrow at the little boy.
"Come on, I thought we've been through this?"
"No, no. I know those stories aren't true, but it wouldn't hurt to try, right?" He meekly suggests with his face scrunching up in the most adorably innocent way.
"Well, have you tried?" She counters.
"Huh?"
"Your mom loves you a heck of a lot more. Did you ever think that maybe your kiss will wake her?" She smugly replies, causing his big hazel eyes to blink rapidly in confusion.
"N-no."
"Try it," she playfully says, shrugging so carelessly.
Henry's little lips twist and turn as he mulls over the idea while his eyes study his mother intently. He sighs, almost like he's annoyed and leans over his mother's bed. He hesitates, but just for a second before he kisses his mother's forehead tenderly, like he's petrified of causing her anymore pain. They both freeze, waiting for some magical moment, but when Regina doesn't budge, Henry whispers, "I love you, mom," into her ear.
He sighs heavily in defeat and disappointment, slowly pulling away, but then Regina is groaning and through a very sleepy voice, that's extra raspy and groggy, she murmurs, "love you too, prince."
"Oh my god, it worked!" Henry shrieks, causing Emma to laugh and Regina to wince.
"Told you she loves you more," Emma teases, bringing Regina's hand to her lips and lightly kissing her knuckles.
"Henry, honey, please whisper," Regina pleads through her rough voice that's pleading for some water to cool down her hoarse throat.
"Sorry mom," he ecstatically whispers. "But you're awake. You're okay. Are you okay? Are you in pain?" He rambles incoherently, persuading the faintest of chuckles to escape Regina's mouth.
"Yes, honey. A bit of a headache, but I'm okay," she assures him, slowly blinking away the foggy haze clouding her vision.
"Well hello, Sleeping Beauty," Emma teases, against Regina's knuckles, kissing her once again.
"Emma," Regina breathlessly says through a lazy smile. "You're okay."
"Thanks to you. What the hell were you thinking?"
"Language, dear. We have an impressionable eight-year-old that worships you."
They both chuckle softly while Henry scoffs at the accusation. Regina pats the bed beside her and Henry immediately crawls onto the bed and snuggles against his mother's warmth.
"Seriously, Regina, that was stupid. Why the hell would you risk something so-"
"Stop shouting," her girlfriend winces and snuggles her son for some comfort. "I was worried about you, who knows what that man was thinking? I had to stop the car before he did..." Regina swallows and Emma nods, knowing she doesn't want to finish the sentence in front of Henry.
"As much as I appreciate the gesture, don't you ever do something so reckless again," Emma sternly says, narrowing her eyes at her sleepy girlfriend.
Regina is obviously still loopy; maybe from the concussion, maybe from the medication flowing so freely through her veins, or maybe she damaged the part of her brain that makes her so stern. The woman shrugs flippantly with a dopey grin sliding across her face.
"Maybe I like being a hero," she flippantly replies and then presses a long kiss to her son's temple.
"I just want you to be my mom," Henry announces, his head leaning against his mom's shoulder as his eyes flutter closed to soak up the moment with his mother again.
Emma smiles happily at mother and son and watches as they both drift asleep in each other's arms from the trauma and exhaustion. She quickly shoots a text to Robin, vowing that Regina is doing much better. Then, she rests her chin upon Regina's hip and watches over her two most favorite people as they finally sleep in peace.
XXXX
"Emma?" The voice sounds unfamiliar and strange, startling her wide awake. She jerks away from the unwanted touch upon her shoulder and blinks rapidly to cut through her sleepy haze. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to scare you," a young nurse says with a sheepish smile set into place. "I wanted to check your vitals, and you really shouldn't be sleeping too long right now."
"Right," she flatly replies, wiping the sleep from her eyes.
Even though she's half asleep, she still checks her phone, finding one message from her Captain from an hour ago. She clicks on the text and sighs in relief when she reads, 'Great work, Swan. Bae Gold is in custody now.'
"How is your head? Would you like something?" The nurse kindly inquires, wrapping Emma's arm with the blood pressure cuff.
"Is that allowed?"
"I won't tell if you won't," the nurse winks, persuading a lazy smile to grace Emma's face.
"Yeah, I feel like I got run over by a dump truck," she jokes lightly before her eyes trail toward the sleeping duo to her right to check on them.
"He really shouldn't be up there, but I'm not about to start a fight with Mayor Mills," the nurse acknowledges, before she smiles brightly back at Emma. "Your blood pressure is perfect."
"Great and hey, wise decision on not picking a fight with the mayor," she playfully whispers as the nurse runs a thermometer over her forehead.
"I'm going to grab you some medicine for your head."
"Thank you," she whispers, stretching out her stiff muscles and immediately regretting the decision the moment her body screams in pain.
She lays the left side of her face against Regina's hip again and closes her eyes for a moment to calm her body back down. A moment later, featherlight fingertips are treading through her hair and she doesn't have to open her eyes to recognize the familiar touch. She hums from the loving embrace and bathes in the intimate moment between them.
"Hey."
"Hey yourself," Emma mumbles, slowly peeling her eyelashes apart. "How are you feeling?" She whispers, hoping not to disturb the sleeping boy.
"The question is how are you?"
"Never better," she happily concludes, leaning into the gentle touch.
"Emma," and by the seriousness in her girlfriend's tone, she perks her head right up, her worried green eyes latching onto wholesome brown. "W-was today a normal day on the job for you? Is this a frequent-"
"Regina," Emma hastily interrupts her, sensing that this topic of conversation could end disastrous for their future. She scrambles closer toward her girlfriend, takes her free hand and stares intently into those dark eyes. "I told you, I can't keep this up if I want a future with you. I'm done. I'm going to ask my Captain for a recommendation or a transfer, anything, but no more undercover jobs, I swear. I can't put you and Henry in danger, ever again," she vows with conviction.
"I'm sorry for interrupting," the nurse shyly announces. "Here's some pain relievers and some water."
"Thank you," Emma quickly accepts the medicine and downs the two pills in a rush before the nurse exits the room again.
"You scared me half to death today," Regina sadly confesses, sliding her hand between Emma's once again.
"I swear, that won't ever happen again," she promises, bringing Regina's hand to her lips, so she can seal her vow with a tender kiss to her knuckles.
"But how will we survive in a relationship if you are all the way in New York and I am here? You know my mother and Henry need me."
"About that," she slyly replies, enclosing the gap between them so her lips are just ghosting over Regina's. "I've been thinking, maybe in the future, like after we have taken things slow and we realize that the distance thing is too much...maybe you and Henry would want to move to New York?"
"What?" Regina gasps, her eyes blowing wide from the proposal.
"Hear me out," Emma hastily recommends. "You said yourself, you wish you could escape this stupid town. Henry needs a fresh start, away from all those little punks that constantly bully him. And they have some great homes for your mother that specialize with her disease and are so much nicer than the hospital here."
"You've really thought about this?" Regina says, obviously flabbergasted by the initiative. Emma's cheeks burn crimson from the acknowledgement, but she nods slowly, her eyes never leaving Regina's intense gaze. "You really think this will all work out?"
"After everything we have been through, I have never been more certain," Emma whispers and then delicately brushes her lips against Regina's with the vow of a better tomorrow.