A/N: Sorry for small update, but you guys did ask for quicker posts and shorter chapters! ;) Please comment and review after reading. Those of you who've been reviewing have been inspiring me, thank you so much! Please don't ever stop. I'm so happy you are enjoying this story xx
Emma was still seated on the couch beside where Regina was lying in the living room. The brunette had convinced her to help her wash up a bit before their drive to Boston, but Emma's thoughts were still on their time crunch.
"Regina I'll help you change your clothes and clean up a bit but I really don't think you have time to take a full bath. We have to get on the road as soon as possible. After what happened you're in serious need of a hospital."
Regina gave a small sigh. "I'm aware of that... But Henry's not even here yet so we wouldn't be wasting very much time anyways. We still have to wait for him and I really don't want him to see me in this state. Not to mention that I don't want to sit in a car for four hours feeling so... repulsive."
"You're not repulsive." Emma replied sincerely. She gave a heavy sigh, she couldn't argue with Regina anymore, it was pointless and a waste of time. She had to admit it, if the roles were reversed Emma herself probably wouldn't want to sit that long covered in blood and god knows what else either. "Okay fine... But are you absolutely sure you feel up to it?" She asked. "I know whatever Whale gave you is still in your system. For now it might be best to try to sleep it off."
"I'll have plenty of time to do that in the car."
Emma nodded, but was obviously still debating.
Regina gave a tired sigh. "Please Emma," she said quietly. She looked away from the blonde. "I know it's too much to ask you to do but I just feel like..." Regina's voice wavered. She sighed again. "I suppose I can try to do it on my own, I think I should be able to."
"It's not too much to ask." Emma replied softly. "Of course I'll help you if that's what you want. As long as you're sure you're comfortable with it."
A few tears ran down Regina's face as she thought about how humiliating it was to not be able to do something so simple as to take a bath on her own. She didn't want Emma to see her this way, she didn't want anyone to see her this way, but she just couldn't stand being covered in blood and grime any longer.
"Just don't look at any of my injuries." Regina conditioned in a whisper.
Emma nodded, "I won't, I promise I won't."
Back in the kitchen Snow and David were speaking in lowered voices, trying not to let their words drift towards the other side of the house. Snow glanced in the direction of the other room, she felt sick because of what her husband had just informed her of.
"Charming what are we going to do?" She whispered. "Should we go into town to help? But then we would have to leave just Emma to look after Regina... What if they came for her and Emma couldn't fight them on her own?"
David nodded. "We should stay here for now... But we have to at least tell Emma."
"But what about Regina? She's going to start asking where Henry is. She has a right to know too."
"I know she does, but I think any added grief would be dangerous to her health right now. We will tell her if we have to, let's just wait until we know a bit more first."
Snow nodded, her expression was filled with worry. David noticed the tears that were shining in her eyes and pulled her close. "I know..." He pressed a comforting kiss to the top of her head. "Come on, they'll be wondering where we are."
When David and Snow re-entered the living room they found Emma helping Regina into a sitting position.
"Do you think you might be able to walk yet?" They heard Emma asking.
Regina closed her eyes, shaking her head softly.
"Alright, it's okay." Emma replied as she stood from her seat on the couch and reached down to assist the brunette.
"What are you doing?" David asked.
"Regina wants to change and get cleaned up a bit before we leave."
Regina reached her arms gingerly around Emma's shoulders and then Emma carefully lifted her up. David and Snow shared a look.
"Look I know you're going to say we don't have time... but Henry's not even here yet." Emma explained, echoing Regina's own words to her. "Think about if you were the one who had to sit in a car for four hours in dirty clothes; she just wants to be comfortable that's all."
"No of course..." Snow said, although she seemed a bit distracted. "I agree, it's a good idea."
Emma stopped as she stood up straight with Regina in her arms. She closed her eyes and exhaled softly as she took a short break to mentally prepare herself to carry her injured friend safely up the stairs.
David noticed this and immediately stepped forward.
"Emma put her back down." He said softly, but with a serious look in his eyes. He placed his hand on her arm as he met Regina's confused gaze.
"What why–?" Emma opened her eyes again to look at him.
"Emma you're tired, you've been going non-stop for nearly forty-eight hours. Save your strength, you're going to need it for later."
"But–"
"I'll carry her up," David said kindly, but with a tone of finality.
Emma looked at him and saw the concern on his face. She supposed he was right, Regina would be safer if he carried her. Already Emma's own arms were shaking as she held the brunette, and her head was pounding from what she supposed was overexertion. And so with a look at Regina, who blinked her eyes softly and nodded once in agreement, Emma delicately returned the brunette to her seated position on the couch.
David leaned down and Regina wrapped her arms around him just like she had Emma, and he lifted her much more easily than Emma had. Even so, Regina exhaled in slight discontent at all the jostling. She felt like a fragile rescue kitten being passed between caregivers.
"I'm sorry," David said as he very cautiously adjusted his hold on her to make sure she was comfortable.
"It's okay," Regina whispered, leaning forwards into his embrace instead.
She closed her eyes again once she was in his arms, she had to admit, David's hold on her felt stronger, more secure. She didn't believe Emma was going to drop her but she could tell that David and Mary Margaret had been right, Emma was pushing herself too hard.
Emma remained standing where she was for a few moments. She watched David carrying Regina out of the room before she rubbed her eyes tiredly and followed after them. Snow stood back even longer, debating on whether or not to stop Emma and inform her of what David had told her back in the kitchen. Ultimately she decided against it. While the situation that had arisen was serious, it was currently being handled and right now they had to worry about Regina too because Emma was right, Regina was the one in the most danger right now, and Emma had also been right in saying that Regina would be safest if they all stayed with her.
Although... it was almost inevitable that at least one of them was going to have to leave the house, and Snow suspected it would be best if she herself did because that would leave Emma and David to protect Regina. However right now Snow knew that Emma was likely going to need her help upstairs, and so until they knew more of what was going on, Snow would stay at the house.
Once Regina was in the bathroom, David left Snow and Emma to care for her while he went downstairs to call back into town.
Regina was extremely grateful for their assistance, but by the time Snow and Emma had helped her out of her clothes there were fresh tears rolling down her face. Now she was only wearing the undergarments they had first found her in and she was feeling very self-conscious, especially now that the sedatives were starting to wear off.
"Are you sure you still want to do this?" Emma asked softly as she kneeled beside her friend, keeping her promise and never taking her eyes away from Regina's. She felt her heart ache as she watched the brunette suffering. "We don't have to if you've changed your mind."
Regina sniffled, she shook her head ever so slightly, not making eye contact with either of the other two. "I have to." She whispered in a trembling voice.
"Okay..." Emma nodded.
She placed her hand on the side of her friend's head, looking at Snow to let her know she was ready. Together they slowly and carefully helped Regina into the tub. Luckily Regina had a rubber bath mat for the base of the tub which not only made it safer for her because it prevented her from sliding, but also it acted as a bit of a barrier between the unforgiving porcelain and Regina's bruised body.
Emma had made sure there was an outrageous amount of soap suds to completely cover Regina up. She knew the brunette wished she could have done this on her own but they all knew it would have been impossible, not to mention far too dangerous.
Now that Regina was concealed in the tub they carefully took off her undergarments.
Regina was content for the first few minutes to simply let the warmth of the water and the familiar fragrance of the soap work its magic to soothe her as she leaned back against the neck rest, but soon she needed to start washing up. Emma and Snow helped her as delicately as they could, and soon they could finally see it in her eyes that Regina was starting to feel a little better.
It didn't take long for Regina to fall asleep against the neck pillow attached the tub behind her, but even once she had, the other two let her stay soaking in the water for a while longer since they knew it was helping her aching joints and muscles.
After a few minutes Snow looked at Regina to make sure her eyes were still closed. Snow couldn't tell for sure if the woman was fully asleep, but she decided to risk it anyway.
"Regina?" She asked gently.
When there came no response, Snow looked towards her daughter.
"Emma... back when we were downstairs your father received some pretty upsetting news from town..."
"What now?" She whispered tiredly, glancing towards Regina. "Is that why David called you into the other room?"
"Yes." Snow looked at the queen again too. She knew that even though Regina's eyes were closed it didn't mean she was completely unaware, and she really didn't want to give the poor woman any more reason to stress.
"Why don't you go downstairs and talk to David about it? I'll stay here with her, I'll make sure she's okay."
Emma breathed a heavy sigh, still watching Regina. "Is it about the townspeople? Are they gathering a mob again or something?"
"Just go talk to him, he'll tell you everything." Snow said softly.
"Okay..." Emma replied tiredly. "Call me if you need anything."
With a final glance at Regina, Emma got up from her seat beside the bathtub and exited the en-suite.
A/N: Thank you for reading, please don't forget to review. Take care xx