After planning with everyone all day and late-night discussions with David, Mary Margret had convinced him she should be the one to take on Regina, alone. Now that she was moments from that confrontation, she hesitated. Knowing it was going to be hard to stay on task with conflicting things on her mind. Still so sure that Emma was keeping something from them. That Regina was involved this filled her with anxiety and Mary Margret wasn't sure what scared her more the creature hunting them, or Regina having some secret that involved Emma.
Gripping the wheel of her car rather tensely Mary Margret let out a deep breath before getting out, trying to get her emotions in check before facing Regina. She had to get answers this time and not let her just walk away.
After all it was her idea to go to Regina on the whereabouts of the campers in the first place and if anyone could get a response it was Snow White.
Mary Margret got out of the car and headed into the station. It was empty but not quiet, she could hear Regina groaning frustrated. Regina was straining herself trying to escape but her magic was still not working, and she was tiring herself out trying to focus on unlocking the cell door. So, focused on the task Regina didn't even hear someone enter the station.
"Don't you want help with that?" Mary Margret said as she came around the corner into the office keys in hand. she unlocked the cell Regina had called home for the past few weeks without a moment's hesitation opening the door.
"What are you doing?" Regina responded with a snarl not trusting this and staying put behind the bars.
"You want out, then I want to know where you're planning on going" Mary Margret asked staying firm.
"I am going to do what you can't" Regina answered frustrated knowing this was the only way she could get what she wanted.
"What is that exactly?" Mary Margret asked.
"Find our mystery campers" Regina simply answered knowing exactly what this about having had Graham grilling her for answers about this the whole time she was in here. Regina knew if she bitted her time then a real opportunity to get things done would appear before her.
Mary Margret gestured for her to make her way out of the cell and lead the way to them, seen as Regina had an idea of where to start. Standing their hands on her waist so self-righteousness about it all smirking in her cell. Knowing she had something to trade, for chance at freedom.
"Ok I'll lead you to them" Regina answered slowly walking out standing beside Mary Margret.
"That was easy, what's your plan then?" Mary Margret asked.
Regina was silent looking around behind Mary Margret for someone else, but she was alone. This confused Regina assuming this kind of mission would involve the whole family. The plan for the day seemed to be divide and conquer.
"It's just me" Mary Margret said noticing her gaze.
"Thought Emma might drop by again but it's good she goes to school once in a while" Regina responded feeling a bit miffed at going this toe to toe with only Mary Margret.
"Emma's welfare is not your concern, now if you don't have an idea on where your friends are then you can get back in there" Mary Margret said pointing at the cell.
"And you think that's fair, no judge no jury" Regina replied with a glare.
"I never got one" Mary Margret replied stern.
Regina ignored her and started ruffling through the draws of the desk in front of them trying to remember where the file she got from her former office was placed. Regina smiled when she found the paper she was looking for and placed it on the table upside down purposely so Mary Margret couldn't see its contents. This action did not go unnoticed by Mary Margret and she once again had to remind herself to stay on task.
"Is that from your friends then?" Mary Margret asked.
"There not my friends, I don't know why they wanted to meet with me, but I know a way we can track them" Regina waved her hand over the paper trying to get a feel for it.
"That's your plan use a tracking spell, but your magic isn't working" Mary Margret replied with a frown.
"Thanks for the reminder, quite helpful" Regina responded looking to her with distain.
"David was right this is a dead end" Mary Margret huffed.
"So, this was your idea" Regina replied with a smirk.
"Why is this document going to lead us to the campers?" Mary Margret asked frustrated trying to stay on task.
"Isn't it obvious it belongs to one of them" Regina answered rolling her shoulders back trying to concentrate.
"You said you didn't know them" Mary Margret replied confused.
"I said there weren't my friends, not that I didn't know them or one in particular" Regina replied her tone changing becoming more aggravated.
"Couldn't just give a straight answer?" Mary Margret shot back.
"When I want to" Regina answered with a shrug.
"Well, I've got a few more question for you so whenever you're ready" Mary Margret asked getting ready for the hard questions.
"And I have one for you" Regina said.
"What?" Mary Margret replied.
"Why do you so urgently need to find them, all of a sudden?" Regina asked.
"We need something to stop the creature, we need a totem and think these campers have it" Mary Margret explained but that wasn't the real reason she was here, and Regina could see right through her façade.
"That's it, nothing else on your mind" Regina said looking at her now with a smirk.
"Like I said I have few questions" Mary Margret replied.
"Alright your turn" Regina replied frustrated as she tried to focus on her magic.
"Why was Emma so upset yesterday?" Mary Margret asked firmly.
"She was crying?" Regina replied concerned.
"What did you say to her? If you hurt her?" Mary Margret said getting herself worked up ready to threaten.
Regina became overwhelmed with frustration; she was actually trying to help, at Mary Margret's requests to find the very people terrorising this town including Emma. Now she was getting accusations thrown her way.
Feeling an unhinged sense of anger wanting to shut her up for good, but still focused on the task at hand she found herself feeling a surge of power and the page lite up floating upwards.
"You did it" Mary Margret said pointing at the page as it floated towards the exit.
"Just when I thought I'd lost my touch" Regina said confused not sure how that suddenly worked.
They both walked out in silence although this was a significant lead if it actually got them to the people behind this attack on Storybroke, it also showed that old threats where growing. If Regina were back at full power, there is no telling the damage she could do in the name of revenge. It seemed whenever they got close to solving a problem two more popped up.
Mary Margret was starring ahead trying to focus on moving forward but her mind was racing trying to figure this out. Why Regina was just beating around the bush not giving much away, head forward as they walked in silence. Mary Margret wasn't going to take being placated much longer the need for answers gnawing at her, knowing her window of opportunity would be closing soon.
They kept-on walking in silence and the town was quiet as they made their way through the backstreets not a soul in sight. Mary Margret reached for her phone feeling the need to check in even just to take her mind off things. It was then she realised her phone was still with David she stopped walking suddenly. Knowing that going after this lead was useless if they couldn't call for help, once they found their mystery tourists.
"What are you doing?" Regina asked frustrated realising Mary Margret had stopped walking.
"We should make a plan; these people have security measures" Mary Margret responded thinking about the creature and the alarm system they had at the campsite.
"I think, I can take them" Regina replied with snark.
"So, you know what they're capable of?" Mary Margret replied matching her attitude.
"What I know, is we don't have time to wait around for you to gather the dwarfs" Regina replied as she continued.
"Stop avoiding the question and tell me, who are we tracking?" Mary Margret asked frustrated stopping Regina by grabbing her arm and keeping her in place.
Regina stopped walking with a resulting frustrated stamp of her feet like a petulant child and she turned to Mary Margret with a look of utter contempt. However, she gave in realising that if she were going to stop this menace from destroying her town, she would need assistance.
"Woman name of Emily, I believe you've met her" Regina replied pulling away, so she was out of Mary Margret grip.
"Emma's case worker" Mary Margret responded bewildered.
"She was more than that she was in charge of Emma's case for a long time, known Emma almost her whole life" Regina replied somewhat smug she knew more about Emma then Mary Margret did.
"How do you know so much about this, about Emma?" Mary Margret asked no longer holding back her emotions.
"We really should focus on the tracking spell" Regina responded sensing the change in Mary Margret at the mention of Emma, she was no longer focussing on the mission at hand now she got glimpse of the secrets being kept from her.
"No, I came here for answers I'm getting them" Mary Margret said grabbing the paper as it fluttered ahead of them.
"You ruin the spell" Regina yelled not ready for this confrontation.
Mary Margret had already grabbed the document turning it over quickly to see an old picture of three individuals in small room cramped room, in the centre a small table crowded with children's toys and documents.
Regina, she recognised immediately and Emily standing behind her but what was most surprising part image. The small child sitting in the front colouring in, looking so young and innocent.
"What, what is this?" Mary Margret asked surprised not expecting what she saw in front of her.
"I think you must have figured it out now" Regina responded frustrated.
Mary Margret looked down at the paper again she was trying not to see it but there was no denying the truth, she'd recognised those eyes anywhere. It was a younger Emma in the photo about three or four she was smiling drawing a picture with crayons. Regina was sitting on the couch behind her leaning over so casual dotting over her drawing. Emily stood behind them arms folded a fake smile on her face.
"You knew Emma before she came here?" Mary Margret replied feeling faint.
"Briefly" Regina replied trying not think about how that time affected her so deeply.
"That's what's been going on, that's what she was keeping a secret" Mary Margret said taking a step back thinking over every interaction she had had with Emma recently.
"We don't have time for revelations right now" Regina replied trying to snatch the document back.
"You are right we don't have time, you know why we don't, because you took it from us" Mary Margret responded her anger boiling over feeling so hurt wanting to be the one sitting behind Emma in that photo because it should have been her.
"And you, you got that time with her" Mary Margret said her sadness turning to anger, angrier than she had ever been.
"I didn't know" Regina responded frustrated realising that these types of things where in fates cruel hands and she was still trying to figure out the reason for this particular incident.
The where both quiet for a moment, seeing the hurt in Mary Margret's eyes was jarring to Regina. Something she used to enjoy now just a sad reminder of who she used to be. Regina walked off further down the alleyway towards the direction the spell was leading them. Knowing she didn't have the words to calm her down but that anger could be of some use. Mary Margret followed her anger surging wondering what this meant was Regina working with them all this time all sorts of thoughts rushing through her mind making her heart race.
"Why do you think Emily is one of those campers controlling this monster?" Mary Margret asked once she caught up.
"A hunch, I always thought she was suspicious, like she knew" Regina replied thinking back on all the strange comments Emily used to make.
"You think she knew about the curse, about Emma's destiny?" Mary Margret asked wondering how much more she could take.
"You don't think it's odd she keeps trying to call you?" Regina replied.
"You overhear a lot at that station" Mary Margret responded with so much happening the comings and goings of a social working were not much concern, until now.
"I was always suspicious of her while I had my visits with Emma" Regina admitted.
"Visits" Mary Margret repeated shocked, that this woman that torn her family apart go to spend time with Emma.
"I was trying to adopt, but after she told me Emma wasn't the right fit, I just let it go" Regina replied.
"You knew something was wrong and you just let Emma get taken away" Mary Margret replied getting more frustrated feeling the urge to start a fight.
"It was out of my hands, unlike now if you'll be quiet for a moment, you'll notice something" Regina said pointing through a very dirty window in the alley that were in. It was hard to make out, but she could see three figures in there they were arguing, and it was getting louder.