Having changed out of her muddy clothes Mary Margaret couldn't help but giggle to herself. After they settled down Buddy and got him safety in the troth for a much needed clean. Which took about twenty minutes as the poor dog was reluctant to trust the hands of strangers. It was a bit chaotic, and, in the end, it seemed the bigger task was getting Emma to take shower. Almost running out the door, in her still mud soaked clothes to meet up with Killian. Compromising Mary Margaret dropped Emma off in the car, on her way to the Sheriff's station. Emma was in such a rush though she almost forgot to take off her seatbelt when getting out, but still remembered to thank her mother as she ran off.
Mary Margaret had a big wide smile on her face every time she heard those words from her daughter so casually. Turning up the music and tapping the steering wheel as she drove along. The sun was warm through the car window, a nice change from the chilly breeze brought on by the rain. If this was happily ever after it was pretty dam good almost worth all the struggle all the pain that came before it. Spending her days with her loving husband and daughter, Mary Margaret was starting to feel like she could finally breath, relax and enjoy life. There was of course one increasingly present problem on her mind, and she let out a deep breath pulling her car into the Sheriff's station. Grunting as the door let out a squeak while opening, the old car barley holding it together.
Hesitating for a moment before she pushed the double doors open into the Sheriff's station, her eyes on Regina's black sedan in the carpark. Facing this was way overdue though and Mary Margaret continued marching down the hall, bow and arrow strapped across her back. Her expression determined entering the main office expecting to find Regina there. Instead, the cells and desks where empty there was no sound but the computer hum and the sighing coming from Grahams office. The Sheriff had his head in his hands as the read the most recent wave of complaints about his newest assistant to the department.
"Don't tell me, your planning on getting a few shots in yourself" Graham said seeing Mary Margaret standing in the office her expression frustrated.
"What" Mary Margaret replied feeling guilty.
Graham smirked his eyes on the bow and arrow Mary Margaret had strapped across her back, like she was ready for a show down. Compared to the rest of the residents here she definitely had more of a reason to be upset. However, given their history the idea of Snow White taking revenge amused him.
"No, I was going to practice" Mary Margaret explained her eyes wide.
"In the Sheriff's station" Graham said.
"Umm no I just had a question, but if your busy" Mary Margaret said smiling.
"No, no I'm free" Graham said relieved.
"I just wanted to know if anyone has reported a missing dog?" Mary Margaret
"Not that I know of, why do you ask?" Graham said looking over his notes quickly once more.
"Well Emma found one, just wanted to make sure no one was trying to find him" Mary Margaret explained.
Graham just shook his head thinking back on his day. Another early morning meeting Regina by the mausoleum taking another heart back to its rightful place. While being met with continued animosity. Returning to the office only to read through ten or so messages some yelling others just condescending, but not one mentioned a missing dog. Graham could handle a missing dog.
Mary Margaret's smile widened relieved they didn't have to send buddy away, not wanting Emma to have to lose anything else. A ridiculous notion that a mother could somehow protect their child from ever being heartbroken again. At least in this instance she had been successful that gave her more relief than she thought it would. Mary Margaret's tense shoulders visibly relaxed.
"You seem really happy" Graham noted sharing her smile.
"I am" Mary Margaret replied with a warm smile.
Mary Margaret walked over to the notice board to make sure there was no photos of their newest family member. Graham was stuck reminiscing for a moment about the young women, the huntsman was commissioned to kill. How much he had changed after one decision that defined his life. Having been taking prisoner then trapped until the curse broke. It was good to see the choice he made, was finally paying off. Graham stood up from his desk deciding to leave the complaints of the ignorant for another day. Mary Margaret's wasn't occupied with the notice board for long. Her eyes wondered looking around to the surrounding area as she inched closer to the staff room. Where only a week ago, she lay unconscious while Regina risked her sanity to wake her and find Emma.
"She's on lunch" Graham said looking over at Mary Margaret knowingly.
"Right of course" Mary Margret said.
The desk closet to them was piled up high with files some thick others thin post it notes all over the place. Photos and drawings of countless people, some clearly drawn by Regina herself as she tried to recall faces from her nightmares. Every horrible moment from her past continued to show up every time Regina closed her eyes, haunting her. It was like some twisted suspect list except they were all the victims getting back what was stolen from them.
"Since Regina returned my heart, it really felt like it was time to start healing, for all of us" Graham commented seeing what had caught Mary Margaret's attention.
"That's amazing, what you two have been doing" Mary Margaret said.
"You're the only one that seems to think so" Graham replied.
"Graham" Regina yelled bursting into the station out of breath.
"Look I know you told me I should keep my distance, but I saw Emma standing by the clock tower" Regina continued as she made her way into the station not yet realising Mary Margaret was in earshot.
"So, I talked to her, but she ran off with that pirate man" Regina continued somewhat frustrated this was taking so long to explain and that Graham.
"Killian?" Graham asked confused wondering what the cause for alarm was.
"No, he had two hands, the point is there was something wrong with him and Emma.." Regina continued stopping in her tracks as she rounded the corner.
"Liam" Mary Margaret said alarmed.
Barley acknowledging Regina's awkward expression, she grabbed her phone from her bag dialling Emma's number. The three of them stood in silence until they heard the dreaded voicemail. Mary Margaret messaged her husband and update and quickly made a decision. Placed the phone back in her bag and headed for the exit without a word. Regina frustrated with this exchange looked over to Graham for an explanation.
"Regina, come on" Mary Margaret called out.
"I guess your help is required" Graham said gesturing for Regina to follow.
"That's for sure" Regina said.
Regina turned around catching up with Mary Margaret outside the station, she was moving quickly. Regina wasn't prepared to head out on an adventure still holding her lunch in hand and in heels no less. This was the second time the pair had been roped into working with each other but now things seemed so different. The animosity between them almost false just a side effect of their current stress levels.
"Which direction did they go?" Mary Margaret asked.
"Headed towards the docks of course" Regina answered.
"That's where we'll be" Mary Margaret said gesturing for Regina to get into the car with her.
Quickly starting up the engine of the old station wagon and pulling out of the car park. Regina tried to sit still hands in her lap. That lasted for a whole five seconds before Regina reached for the radio turning it off. Finding whatever upbeat song playing extremely irritating. There was an awkward tension in the air as both tried to keep calm. Regina grunted allowed at the speed the car was traveling. Although they were going over the speed limit. Mary Margaret looked over to Regina with a frown rolling her eyes, but still put her foot on the gas harder.
"Quicker if you go down park" Regina said with an agitated tone.
Mary Margaret's hand clenched the steering wheel and she let out a deep breath. Park street was the most direct way to the pier, however that was only if you were planning on staying on the road. The Jolly Roger was parked near the other side and that was most likely where Emma had gone. Finding people, is something Mary Margaret was well versed in.
"I know a short cut" Mary Margaret replied with a bit of a smirk as she quickly turned right cutting through on a dirt path.
Regina huffed as the car going even faster now battered around on the uneven ground. The smell of the salty air was now present, and it was clear this was the faster route.
"Bit bumpy" Regina shot back.
The car emerged from the bushes onto the sand there wasn't many people out an about. Pretty standard for this small coastal town. Making the bright red ambulance rig easy to spot parked on the footpath right by the docks. The saw a boy wrestling with the paramedics as they tried to load him into the ambulance, he was screaming or more like screeching. The car made an abrupt stop and they both climbed out quickly. Mary Margaret hadn't even taken the key out of the ignition racing over to who she now recognised as Killian, ahead of Regina whose heals where not faring well in the soft sand.
"I'm not the one who needs help" Killian bellowed.
"Kid you need to sit back, you're in shock" The paramedic said.
Killian continued to ignore them squirming to get free as they tried to get him to lie down and run some tests. Then he saw Mary Margaret and Regina running towards him and let out a deep breath. Relieved to be tagged out of the particular fight especially when he was fighting just to stay conscious. They were an odd pair to say the least, but Killian knew that they had one thing in common, they would both climb mountains to save Emma.
"In the boat" Killian yelled gesturing towards the small speed boat Liam had climb aboard with Emma moments ago.
They looked out to the water to see where he was pointing. The only boat out in the water a small square looking thing with faded green paint. The little engine struggling against the fight that was happening aboard. The boat was spiralling in the waves with no one at the helm to control it. All you could make out was a large man towering over the small frame of the plaided shirt wearing girl. Unfortunately, all other boats were out for the day the only one still parked was the Roger. By the time they got it out it would be far too late for Emma. Both Mary Margaret and Regina ran over to the edge of the pier, but it they were still a mile away. Hopelessly they looked out into the horizon wishing they could reach her.
"Emma" Mary Margaret yelled desperately but the sound didn't carry there was no chance she even knew they were there.
"She can't hear us" Regina grunted with a frown.
"Can you get over there?" Mary Margaret asked.
"By the way the boat is thrashing around, I'm likely to end up in the water" Regina answered hopeless.
Mary Margaret couldn't help but giggle hysteria closing in coupled with the irony of finally having Regina there for assistance. With all that power she had that now seemed to be useless whenever they needed it. Regina's whole body tensed and her eyes where focused on the boat ahead. Counting with the rhythm between the turns of the boat but precious seconds were going by. Mary Margaret could see the look of determination in Regina's eyes. There was also a hate burning in them, the source of her strength. This only made Mary Margaret more panicked her heart racing believing there had to be a way to get out of this, with no loss of life.
Pulling her bow and one arrow Mary Margaret lined up her shot it was as easy as breathing her body remembering with precision just how to move. Aligning her shoulder into the perfect position even her fingers felt right on the trigger. Breathing in, then out she let an arrow fly for the first time in fifteen years. It hit dead on the side of the boat.
"You missed" Regina scoffed frustrated that she had now also lost count.
"If you're trying to go over there just to kill him, don't bother" Mary Margaret shot back.
"You can judge me all you want, deep down you're glad I'm a killer, if it weren't for me Emma would be lost already" Regina shot back.
"You think this is easy for me, you think making the right choice is ever easy" Mary Margaret said pulling back her bow letting another arrow fly this one hitting Liam.
"You got him in the shoulder" Regina said frustrated.
"I know" Mary Margaret replied.
"Well, that will barley slow him down" Regina yelled.
"I know but that's Killians brother, we can't just" Mary Margaret said thinking back to the day they spent together sheltering from the rain.
"Kill him, before he kills Emma" Regina said bluntly.
"There's always another way" Mary Margaret urged.
Regina focused on getting to Emma not seeing any reason to waste time arguing about the best course of action any longer. A burst of pink smoke appeared where Regina was standing and vanished.
"Regina" Mary Margaret yelled.
Mary Margaret's voiced echoed getting louder as it did. It brought on the most extreme DeJa'Vu as if Regina heard the same voice calling her back to the present every night. The link to Mary Margaret's mind still lingered and it was causing an after effect. A lifetime of moments went by in that split second, but now with a whole new perspective. Regina could she her father smiling lovingly at her, a ruggedly handsome man in a bar, but there was one prominent constant reassuring figure, Snow White. All the moments she overlooked, happy loving memories still there amongst all the bad ones. Regina wasn't seeing the world through only one perspective anymore. A sense of certainty came over her and Regina knew what she had to do next.
Notes: next chapter Emma struggles to ward of a lost Liam in need of urgent assistance. As always thanks for reviews and continued support :)