A/N: Thank you to those of you who commented on the last chapter! I thought I wouldn't be able to update this weekend but you all inspired me to continue working on this when I should have been studying. :P I hope to hear from you again soon! xx This one is shorter but I wanted to get it posted because I don't know how soon I will be able to update again. I will do my best xx
David held on to her hand and supported her as she inched her way to the edge of the bench seat on the driver's side of the truck. Once Regina was there, David wrapped an arm around her waist. She leaned heavily against him as he lifted her down to the ground. Even once her feet were firmly on the road, she continued to hold on to him because she was starting to feel a little faint.
Regina took in a deep breath of fresh air. She closed her eyes, exhaling gratefully as it worked to calm her down. It was her first time actually being outside since her kidnapping, she realized. There were the brief times when Emma had carried her to and from the car when they had rescued her, but she had been barely conscious at the time.
"Are you going to be warm enough?" David asked her as Henry hopped out of the other side of the truck. "Emma will be here soon but if you're cold you can wear my coat over yours."
"No it's okay David, thank you."
David nodded. He glanced towards the line in front of them. "Ready to cross?" He asked softly.
Regina gave a single nod, and so David continued to support her with one arm as they walked slowly towards the town line. Henry followed close beside them.
"How is it? Are you okay?" David asked, keeping an eye on Regina as she walked.
"Yes." She was a little shaky on her feet, and it was obviously very taxing on her damaged, sore legs, but she was able to do it.
"Do you need to slow down?"
Regina stopped instead. Taking in a deep breath as she looked up at him again.
David's brow furrowed at her expression. "What is it?" He asked in concern.
"What if something happens to Emma and we're stuck on the other side of the border?" She asked in quiet worry. "We can't leave without her. I don't want to leave without her."
David nodded his understanding."If something does happen and Emma can't make it... we'll figure it out. Mary Margaret or I could call your phone when it's safe and Henry could help you back into town. But Emma's going to be okay. She said so herself, she'll be here probably within the next thirty minutes."
Regina wiped a tear from her cheek as she glanced down at Henry, who was hovering by her shoulder. Sniffling quietly, she blinked back a few more tears before she slowly turned more fully into David's embrace and wrapped both of her arms around him. "I'm not ready for this, it feels wrong to leave."
David's heart went out to her as she leaned heavily against him, she was clearly in tremendous emotional distress, but if there really was a group of angry townspeople on their way then Regina needed to leave Storybrooke as soon as possible.
He gently wrapped his other arm around Regina to return the hug. He rubbed her back comfortingly. "I'm sorry Regina. I would stay with you if I could, but we both know what will happen if I cross the line. Emma's right, it's safer for you to cross now while the path is clear. No one knows where we are right now but there are only so many places you could be leaving from, and they know there's a chance you're still in town. I don't mean to push you, but you really have to go."
"It's okay," Regina whispered shakily. She withdrew one of her arms from around him so they could continue to walk the rest of the short distance.
Once they were about a foot and a half from the line, they stopped again.
"In case Emma doesn't show up right away, wait maybe two hours." David said, thinking of a better solution than bringing Regina back into Storybrooke. "If she doesn't come by then and you can't get in touch with her, use your cell phone to call a cab to the nearest bus station. From there you can get to Boston. You have your wallet right?"
"No... Emma has it."
David sighed, passing a hand over his face as he thought. "It's okay..." He reached into his pocket and withdrew his own wallet, which he passed to Henry. "Take all of the bills and the credit card." He instructed. "Put them in your mom's coat pocket."
"What? David no. I can't ask you to do that!" Regina protested, placing her hand over Henry's to stop him.
"You didn't." David said gently. "What do you expect me to do? Leave you and Henry on the streets?"
"Of course not," Regina responded. "But we should just do what you originally said. If we need to, Henry and I can come back into town and you can meet us then."
"What if you can't get in touch with us either? No, this way I'll know... no matter what happens today, you two will make it to the hospital." He said, nodding for Henry to continue.
Henry uncertainly pulled some twenties from the wallet, and then David's credit card. He looked from David to Regina, not quite sure who he should listen to.
"David..."
"It's fine Regina." He insisted. "I want you to take it."
She sighed. "I'll get it back to you as soon as possible." She promised.
David rubbed her shoulder appreciatively. "Now come on, we're wasting time. You shouldn't need the money because Emma will come... but just keep this as your backup plan. If anything does happen and you don't think you're up for a four hour bus ride, call an ambulance. They'll take you to the closest hospital. After that we can look into getting you transferred. Whatever happens Regina, we're getting you to Mass General one way or another."
"What if we leave and Emma shows up ten minutes later?"
"Then she'll meet you in Boston. Or you guys can keep in touch by phone if you end up going to another hospital. Is your cell fully charged?"
Regina nodded distractedly, swallowing as she contemplated over this new potential plan. "I don't know about this David." She whispered.
"Hey, don't worry. Emma will meet you soon just like she promised. But it never hurts to have a backup plan."
"But what if Henry and I do need to find our own way... and I black out or something? What if there is no reception to call a taxi or 911? I don't want to leave him on his own out there."
"Regina, you're worrying way too much. If a problem does arise, you'll be able to deal with it then, but until that happens, there is no use stressing yourself out over every potential setback."
"I'm sorry... I know." Regina shook her head. "It's just, this is a lot right now. I wasn't prepared to leave without Emma."
"I know... But everything will be fine, okay?"
Regina nodded.
David took the wallet back from Henry and put it in his pocket. "Thanks Henry. You ready?"
"Yeah."
"Okay," David beckoned him closer.
Regina turned her head to look at Henry, giving him a small smile. The ten year old stepped closer to her side and wrapped an arm around her waist. She put her arm around his shoulders. David carefully released his hold on Regina, making sure Henry was able to help her support herself before he completely let go.
The weight on Regina's injured legs was painful, but not too painful–she decided–as to prevent her from being able to walk as far as they needed to go.
"We're going to have to take it slow." She said quietly to Henry.
"Okay."
She felt David's comforting hand on her back. "Are you going to be okay?"
"Yes, I think so." She whispered.
David nodded, removing his hand, "You can do this." He assured her gently. "Good luck."
Regina frowned, turning to look at him again. He shook his head slightly at her expression, silently asking what was on her mind.
"You've done so much for me David..." she said, her tone full of regret, "so much that I probably didn't deserve. I... I'm sorry for all the hell that I have put you and Snow through over the years. And then with what happened to her today..." Regina shook her head. "There is no way I could ever truly make it up to you both."
"Regina you don't owe us anything. We're not helping because we want anything from you in return; you're family now."
"I was family before." She pointed out with a small twinkle in her eye.
"Only by title. Now come on, stop trying to stall." He teased lightly.
Regina gave him a thankful smile. "Goodbye David." She said softly. She withdrew her arm from around Henry to give him one last hug. David accepted, hugging her gently. He reached out an arm for Henry, and the boy joined them too.
Even though he could still feel Regina holding on to him strongly, David was the first to let go, giving both Regina and Henry an encouraging nod.
"You two had better go, we don't know how much time we still have." He said as Henry and Regina resumed their previous position side by side. The urgency in David's tone was clear, they needed to stop wasting time.
Regina took a deep breath, nodding to Henry to let him know she was ready.
With a final look at David, Regina and Henry crossed the town line.
It was just as Emma predicted, nothing happened. Regina felt completely fine, or rather she felt exactly the same as she had on the other side of the line. To use the word 'fine', would be a stretch.
"How do you feel?" David asked.
"Okay," she whispered. She could feel herself shaking again.
David apparently noticed this as well because the next thing he did was to unzip his coat and hold it out to them. "Take it, you'll need it more than I will."
"It's okay David," Regina insisted. "It's freezing out here."
"Which is exactly why I want you to wear it."
Regina's eyed softened. She reached back over the line to take it. "Thank you."
"You'll get it back to me." David said with a kind wink.
Regina nodded, glancing down at Henry as she fitted the coat around her shoulders, she would put it on properly later.
Henry looked up at David, there were a few tears in his eyes. "Are we going to see you again?" He asked, his voice quivering a little.
"I am positive you will." David assured him.
Henry smiled at that, nodding. He looked up at his mother, and she rubbed his arm comfortingly.
"Be safe." David said. "I'll stay here and keep watch until you've entered the forest. Once you're there, I'll go in and make sure no one will be able to see you from here." He said, pointing to the trees on his side of the line. "Now go," he insisted gently.
This time after breaking eye contact with him, Regina and Henry turned and began their strenuous walk.
After only a few meters Henry looked up at his mother. He could feel her holding back, and he could see the terrible effect it was having on her.
"Mom you need to lean on me more." He told her.
"I'm fine." She said through gritted teeth.
"No you're not." He could see the agony in her eyes, her skin was pale, and her breathing was already heavy and ragged. "You're not going to hurt me. Mom, we still have so far to go. I'm supposed to be helping you so let me. Please, you're going to hurt yourself even more if you try to do this by yourself."
Regina felt a small tug in her heart at her son's words. She was always supposed to have been the one looking after him, not the other way around. But all the same, her eyes softened at how protective he had become of her. She glanced ahead of them too, inwardly groaning at the long stretch of road in front of them. To deny his help would be to put herself through torture. She nodded. "Okay," she whispered. "But promise you'll let me know the second you need to stop."
"I will." Henry agreed.
Once they had walked a ways down the road, Regina looked over into the forest and could see that the trees were quite thick here. They were a good distance away from the town line, and even though when she looked back she could see David's truck and the now small figure that was David himself, she didn't think anyone within Storybrooke's proximities would be able to spy them through the trees.
"Let's try here Henry." She said to her son, her voice a little strained, she needed to sit down.
"Okay."
The two of them veered off of the road and entered the forest. They stayed within eyesight of the road so that they would be able to see Emma's car, but would be invisible to anyone looking from inside Storybrooke's boundary.
"Is here alright?" Henry asked.
"Yes," Regina responded, and so Henry helped her down to the ground.
Regina settled herself back against a big tree trunk, closing her eyes as the weight against her legs was finally relieved.
Not long after, she peeked one eye open at the sound of Henry's small footsteps disturbing the leaves around them. He was walking back and forth, craning his neck and looking through the trees in the direction of town. He was looking for David, she supposed. David had probably seen them enter the woods and by now had gone into the trees back on his end to make sure they were hidden.
"How are you holding up Henry?" She asked softly.
"I'm good." Henry responded in a small voice.
"How is your back? It must be sore."
"It doesn't hurt Mom." Henry said, sitting down beside her now. "What about you? Are you okay?"
Regina knew he wasn't being honest. His muscles, not being used to carrying such a weight, were bound to be tired by now.
She nodded. "We made it Henry," she whispered, her eyes glistening with a few tears.
Henry beamed. "This means no one can hurt you anymore right? We're out of Storybrooke. You're going to be okay now."
Regina's eyes softened as she nodded again. After fitting her arms though the sleeves of David's coat, she reached out an arm and Henry settled into her side. As he leaned against her, she pulled the coat around him too, trying to keep him warm. The sun had fully set now, and the sky was quickly growing darker, which meant the air was also getting colder.
Henry turned more fully into her embrace. Now that they weren't moving he could feel the chill in the air already creeping into his bones. He didn't even want to think about how his mother must be feeling in comparison.
"How long do you think Emma will be?"
"I don't know." Regina answered quietly, closing her eyes and resting her chin on the top of his head. She wrapped both of her arms around him now.
"How will Emma know where to find us?" He asked.
"David will let her know. And she can always phone. She'll find us." Regina looked down at him.
"But it's getting so dark... what if she can't see us?"
"She knows this is the exit we took, and she knows we haven't gone far. Don't worry Henry. She will find us." Regina rested back against the tree again, closing her eyes again.
"When I hear her car I'll go up to the road so she'll be able to see me." Henry decided.
Regina hummed in soft agreement.
Henry held onto her a little tighter, and he felt her arms wrap more protectively around him in response. It was a little unnerving, being out here in the woods in the dark. It was so silent, apart from the soft creak of the tree branches in the wind and the occasional scuttling sound of a small animal rushing through the dried leaves.
After what felt like an eternity, Henry noticed that outside of the forest, the clearing where the road was had gotten a little lighter. The moon must be up now, he surmised.
"Mom how long has it been?"
She didn't respond.
"Mom?" At her silence he pulled back from her a little. He could just make out her features through the darkness.
"Mom? Mom wake up."
She didn't stir.
"Mom!" He said a little more loudly. "Mom please wake up. Mom... I don't want to be out here alone." He said in a small voice.
Still, she didn't respond.
He reached into her coat pocket to search for her phone. Luckily the cold air hadn't completely killed the battery, but it was still dying rather quickly for not being in use. There were no missed phone calls and no messages from town. He wondered if he should call David or Emma, just to get an update on what was going on or when Emma would arrive. He looked at the time. He couldn't remember exactly when they had left David, he hadn't even checked the time when they had left the house.
David had said wait two hours. Had it been two hours? Had it been one? Had it been three?
"Mom should I call Emma?" Henry asked. "Or should I call 911?" He didn't want to waste the battery by making the wrong call.
Regina didn't respond even when he nudged her a few times.
"Mom? Mom I don't know what to do." He was beginning to cry a little. He hadn't counted on her falling asleep. He could feel her soft breathing, and her body heat was keeping him warm under David's coat, but he needed her to be alert, he needed her to talk to him.
"Mom what should I do?"
It was so cold, and she was so unresponsive... had they come so far, had Regina survived so much, only to die out here in the forest? He tried to push the thought out of his mind.
"Mom please wake up. I don't know what to do."