Continuation of "The Fire." Written for OQ Angst Fest using the following prompts:
2. Leave me alone
7. I never meant to hurt you
13. Can you please wake up?
24. I don't want to lose you too
41. You need to rest, I'll be right here
Part 2: The Hospital
Beeping.
That was the first thing Regina heard as consciousness slowly returned to her. She groaned, trying to lift her arm to shut off her alarm—for that had to be the thing that was beeping. A sharp pain in her stomach prevented her from moving much, though, and she was soon racked with powerful coughs.
It then came back to her. The fire. Running through Town Hall to make sure everyone had gotten out—and that Robin hadn't come back in after all. Going back to get her picture of her father. The ceiling giving out and a piece of wood impaling her. Being overwhelmed by smoke and trying to get to the window. Robin rescuing her, pleading with her to stay with him.
He had saved her.
Regina had never been fond of fairy tales. Women were always damsels in distress who needed men to save them. She had vowed as a young girl that she would never need a man to do that—that she would help and save herself. And for the most part, she had done that. Men who didn't like that were sent packing—and that happened to most of her relationships. Robin, though, was different. He never wanted to be her savior but her friend, her helper. He was her biggest cheerleader now that her father was gone and took care of her without being overbearing. Yet she had become the damsel in distress and he ended up being her white knight.
And she wasn't angry at all. In fact, she found it entirely appropriate.
Opening her eyes, she blinked a few times as she realized she was in the hospital. She turned her head to find the beeping came from a machine attached to her by a wire. There was also a tube running into her arm and she followed it to the IV drip. She lay in a hospital bed, in one of their gowns and under a thin sheet with one pillow tucked under hear head. Regina missed her own bed and wondered who she had to threaten to get another blanket.
"Regina?" Emma Swan whispered. When she turned her head, relief filled the blonde's eyes. "Oh, thank god. You had us all worried there for a bit."
Regina tried to speak but found her throat was closed from how dry it was. She had to pry her lips apart, flinching as she pulled some skin off doing so. Emma reached over and picked up a plastic cup with a straw in it, holding it out to her. "Here. Drink this. Slowly."
She closed her lips on the straw, taking slow sips of the refreshing liquid. It slid down her throat, opening it as the water chased away the dryness. Regina took a few more sips before pulling away. She cleared her throat. "Where's Robin?"
Emma usually had a good poker face—Regina had heard many firefighters as well as Emma's own deputy, David, complain about losing often to her—but her eyes always gave her away. Sadness filled them and Regina felt like she was going to throw up the water she had just drank. "No, no. Please don't tell me I lived while he died."
"He didn't die," Emma assured her, taking her hand. "But he's in a bad way."
"What do you mean?" Regina asked, voice raspy.
Emma stood, pushing the curtain separating Regina's side of the room from the other half. It revealed Robin lying on the next bed over, bandages on his face and arms. A tube ran right into his throat, pumping oxygen into him, and he was also connected to several machines, including an IV drip. He looked too pale for Regina's liking and her stomach clenched.
She looked up at Emma. "What's wrong with him?"
"Several things," her friend replied, sitting back down. "He suffered burns while saving you but thankfully only first degree ones. Those are healing right now. But he also burned his throat and suffered from smoke inhalation. He collapsed after rescuing you and went into respiratory failure. The paramedics were able to intubate him and got him here where the doctors pumped fluids from his lungs. He's been unconscious ever since. There's brain activity and that makes the doctors hopeful he'll recover but they still aren't sure if he suffered any oxygen deprivation."
Regina felt herself tremble as she clutched the blanket, tears rolling down her cheeks. "How long has it been?"
"Three days," Emma told her, starting to stand again. "You've been out just as long. I should actually get the doctor to look you over."
She left the room and Regina sat up, ignoring the sharp pain in her stomach. Pushing the blanket off her, she attempted to get out of bed. She wanted to sit by Robin's bedside, to hold his hand and assure herself that he was still there. He was too still for her liking.
Emma and Dr. Whale returned, the latter rushing to Regina's bed. "What are you doing? You're going to pull at your stitches and force your monitors to send emergency signals to the nurse's station," he chided, pushing her back onto the bed.
"I want to be with Robin," she insisted. "He shouldn't be alone."
"See? This is why I demanded they be in the same room," Emma said, crossing her arms as she leaned against the wall.
Dr. Whale sighed. "I understand, Regina, but you need to rest as well. You also suffered from smoke inhalation and you were impaled."
"Robin is still unconscious," Regina argued, scowling at him.
"Yes," the doctor replied. "And we don't know when he'll wake up. If you get plenty of rest, though, I can discharge you in a couple days. I'm sure you'd rather rest at home than here."
She shook her head. "Robin didn't leave me and I'm not leaving him."
He sighed, pinching his nose as Emma smirked. "I told you she would be a pain in the ass about this."
"How about we compromise?" he asked, looking at Regina.
She crossed her arms, wincing as she did so before glaring at him. "That depends on the compromise."
"I'll talk to some people higher up and get permission for us to push your beds together. Then you can rest and be by Robin's side. How does that sound?" he asked, leveling her with a glare of his own.
Regina relaxed her arms with a huff. "That sounds agreeable."
Dr. Whale nodded, heading out of the room. He whispered something to Emma, who nodded, before stepping back out into the hallway. Emma approached Regina. "You still need to lie down and get some rest. Okay?"
"Fine," Regina replied, putting her feet back on the bed and lying down. She glared at Emma. "Happy?"
"Yes, I am," Emma said, sitting back down. "Now, I know its not your strong suit, but you need to be patient and wait for Dr. Whale to get back. Okay?"
Regina nodded. "Can you do me one favor?"
"Sure," Emma replied. "What?"
"Move so I can see Robin."
Though they had some reservations about the highly unusual request, the hospital ultimately agreed to let the beds be pushed together. Since Regina was conscious and had some mobility, it was decided to push her bed next to Robin's. Emma helped her over to a chair, the two walking slowly so as not to pull at Regina's stitches.
Once the beds were set up, Regina climbed back into bed and took Robin's hand as the nurses adjusted all the machines still attached to her. She laced her fingers with his limp ones, smiling as she said: "You need to rest, so I'll be right here with you."
"You need to rest too," Dr. Whale reminded her. "I'll be back to check on the both of you."
He left and Emma placed a hand on Regina's shoulder. "Will you be okay if I head home for a bit?"
"Of course," Regina replied, feeling bad that Emma thought she had to ask. "Go get some rest too. You must be exhausted."
Emma nodded, giving Regina's shoulder a squeeze. "It's going to be okay, Regina. I know it."
As her friend left, Regina wished she had the same optimism. She had long ago realized she was meant to be alone in life. First, her mother had left while she was still a teenager. Cora had insisted she couldn't stand being married to Henry Mills one more minute, that his lack of ambition had held her back from achieving the greatness she believed she had deserved and told Regina she wasn't going to put up with such an ungrateful daughter. Regina hadn't seen her mother since, though she got the Christmas greeting her mother clearly sent out to business acquaintances and she got a letter from Cora when she became mayor that pretty much boiled down to now that you have power, what can you do for me?
Regina had happily tossed it into her fireplace with Robin at her side, scowling at it as it burned.
After her mother had left, Regina had then met who she thought was going to be the love of her life—Daniel Colter. He worked at the stables in Storybrooke and helped her with her horse, Rocinante. She found she could talk to him about everything and anything. He didn't judge her and gently encouraged her to do whatever she loved. She finally had worked up the courage to ask him to prom and it was the best night of her life.
They maintained their long-distance relationship while Regina attended college, talking for hours and spending as much time as possible whenever one came to visit. She saw herself spending the rest of her life with Daniel, the two even discussing their future and marriage. Everything was going well until her father showed up unannounced at school. He took her back to his hotel room and broke the devastating news—Daniel had suffered an accident while riding and had suffered a serious head injury. Regina took a brief leave of absence and went back to Storybrooke to be there when the Colters turned off the machines that were keeping Daniel alive. She held his hand until he passed, taking her dreams of marriage and children with him.
She threw herself into her education, including law school, and then into her career. Regina climbed the ladder quicker than most people and soon was ready to become the youngest mayor in Storybrooke's history. Daddy helped her build her team, which was when Robin Locksley walked into her life.
He had worked on many political campaigns, both in England and the United States, and was the most qualified person she met to help her run her campaign. Robin didn't try to run the whole show nor did he ever insist that he knew more than Regina because of his experience. Instead, he worked with her and allowed her to retain control over her campaign. She knew she wasn't the easiest person to get along with as she had inherited her mother's drive and stubbornness, sometimes getting tunnel vision and not realizing who she was running over to get her goal. Robin was just as stubborn, by his own admission, but also had a way of getting Regina to acknowledge the other people around her and bringing her around to accept their ideas, if they were the best ones for her.
Robin often downplayed his role in her election, giving her most of the credit for that was the type of person he was. He didn't want the glory—he genuinely wanted to help people. But she knew that he was the reason she became a better candidate and now was a good mayor as it had been evident that she needed him to stay as her chief of staff. He was a natural leader and people respected him, allowing her to have a smooth and efficient administration. Robin also kept her on schedule and helped her stay focused on what was important—serving the people of Storybrooke.
She wasn't sure when she had fallen for him but she knew when she realized it—when her father collapsed at their house, clutching his chest in pain. Regina called for paramedics and then called Robin, needing his support. He met her at the hospital when the ambulance arrived and stayed by her side as the doctors worked on her father. Robin had been by her side when they told her they had done all they could but that Daddy was gone, catching her when she collapsed in the hallway. He had then helped her with all the arrangements, staying with her until well after the last mourner had left. Robin made sure she ate and took care of herself, letting her cry on his shoulder when she finally felt safe enough to break down. As she sobbed in his arms, she realized how much she trusted him if she allowed him to see her vulnerable side and then with her heart speeding up, she realized she loved him. When her tears subsided, she kissed him and asked him to stay the night with her. He insisted that they would just sleep in the same bed but he agreed to hold her until morning.
In the cold light of day, things looked clearer to Regina. She still loved Robin and started to suspect he loved her too—everything he did for went over and beyond the duties required as her chief of staff. However, she knew that loving her did not end well for people—both Daniel and Daddy had died. She couldn't lose Robin and believed the best way was to keep him at arms' length. They both agreed to consider her behavior the night before to be caused by grief and never speak of it again, settling back into their friendship.
And now, even keeping him at arm's length, he could still lose his life because of her.
She really was a jinx.
Unable to sleep, Regina reached over and carefully cupped Robin's cheek, minding the tube sticking from his mouth. "I'm so sorry, Robin. You shouldn't be in this bed. You shouldn't be fighting for your life. I was so stupid and sentimental, going back for that picture rather than getting out when I could. Mother was right—love is weakness.
"Only you're the one paying the price," she continued, choking up as tears ran down her cheeks. "And that's not right. I never meant to hurt you but it seems its all I end up doing to the people I love. And I love you, Robin Locksley. However, I hope you can understand why we can never be together."
She rolled over onto her back, wiping her tears. "I don't want to lose you too, not to death at least. I know I have to lose you eventually. That the only way for you to live your life and be safe is to get far, far away from me. So get better, Robin, and then leave me alone. You'll be much better off for it."
Regina started to sob, covering her eyes as her body shook under her blankets. Her lungs began to burn as they were still healing from the fire and she started to cough, struggling to catch her breath. Machines began to beep and she soon found herself surrounded by an army of nurses and doctors.
A nurse placed an oxygen mask over her nose and mouth, telling her to breathe deeply and to try to calm herself. "It's okay," the older woman told her. "Everything is going to be okay."
Nothing was going to be okay, Regina wanted to yell at her. Instead, she continued to breathe deeply until her lungs didn't hurt and she felt better.
The nurse kept the mask on Regina's mouth as she helped her out of the bed. She smiled. "We just need you to sit here for a bit while we help your friend, okay?"
Worry hit Regina like a punch to the gut as she realized some of the machines that had been beeping were ones attached to Robin. Most of the nurses and doctors, including Whale, were crowded around him. She couldn't see what they were doing and she looked up at the nurse, the questions hopefully in her eyes.
"He's coming to," the nurse explained with a soft smile. "He was starting to struggle against his intubation so the doctors need to get that out."
Hope filled Regina and she watched as nurses began to slowly drift from the room, allowing her to finally see Robin. The tube was gone from his throat but he had an oxygen mask over his mouth and nose as Dr. Whale and a few other doctors examined him. Robin lowered the mask and whispered something to the doctor. She couldn't read his lips and wished she knew what he was saying.
Dr. Whale then pointed to her. "Regina is over there. She has some healing of her own to do and shouldn't keep stressing her lungs, but she's okay."
Robin turned his head, blue eyes settling on her. He reached out a shaky hand to her and she tried to go to him. The nurse, though, kept her in her seat. She gave Regina a sympathetic smile. "You'll be with him soon enough. Just be patient."
"Everything is looking good," Dr. Whale said, straightening up. "We're going to keep you a few more days to run some tests but I think you are quite lucky, Robin."
He then nodded to the nurse, who helped Regina back into her bed. She removed the oxygen mask but kept it by the bed, telling Regina: "If you feel you need it, use it. And if you need help, just press the button on your bed. Someone will come to help you."
Regina thanked her as she settled down next to Robin, letting him take her hand. It felt good to have his fingers pressing against hers this time and she smiled at him. "You gave me a scare there."
"You gave me one," he replied, voice muffled by the oxygen mask. "I thought I lost you. I thought I failed you."
She shook her head, tearing up again. "You didn't fail me. I failed you."
He frowned. "Is this that bullshit about love being weakness and you feeling stupid for going back for the picture of your father?"
"You heard that?" she asked, surprised. There was always some debate over how much people in comas could hear but it seemed Robin had heard her. Or maybe he had been coming around. Had her comments made him wake up just so he could tell her how wrong she was? Because that was something he would do.
Robin nodded. "You were not stupid and you are not weak because of how deeply you love. That's your greatest strength."
"I thought it was my persistence," she said, trying to make a joke.
"That too," he replied, pulling her closer. "And I'm persistent too. I'm not going to stop until you realize that you deserve love as well. You're not going to send me away and I'm not going to leave you. You're not a jinx but even if you were, it would be worth the risk for the privilege to love you."
She trembled now, a war raging on inside her. Her heart wanted her to give in, to let him love her, while her brain told her to push him away, to save him. Tears covered her cheeks as she sobbed: "Robin…"
"Please, Regina," he begged. "Trust your heart."
Nodding, she rested her head on his shoulder. "Promise me you won't leave?"
"Just as long as you don't go anywhere I can't follow," he replied, resting his cheek on her head.
She smiled, feeling better as her eyes started to close. "Deal. Now, why don't you follow me to dreamland?"
He chuckled, squeezing her hand. "Happily. And I'll be here when you wake up."
With that assurance, she fell into a peaceful sleep, ready to build up her strength so she and Robin could get out of the hospital and hopefully on a real date. It was time to start taking risks and he was definitely worth taking a chance on, especially if he thought she was worth it too.