Dr. Whale watched over Jane Doe, whose name he learned was actually Mackenzie Burns. Her right arm was indeed broken in two places, and there were quite a few bruises and lacerations from the accident. Thankfully though, her concussion was mild. After a couple of days had passed, and Whale was sure she had recovered from the concussion, he asked her about her sister. Which was the reason he now found himself outside of her room, waiting for Emma and Killian.
"Hey, Whale." Emma and Killian came walking down the hallway, with Emma pushing their daughter Hope in her stroller.
"Bring your child to work day?" Whale asked.
Emma sighed. "My parents are at a council meeting, Regina is already babysitting Robin, and my sons are cramming for exams and spending time with Lucy. Would've left her at the daycare, but Ashley has her hands full with all those kids and now another one of her own."
Whale smiled. "I know the feeling." He bent down and let Hope grasp onto his finger.
"So, what's the trouble?" Killian asked
"Uh, I was trying to avoid this from happening, because I didn't want to alarm anyone."
"Something to do with a patient?" Emma asked.
"Yeah." Whale stood and faced the couple. "Her name is Mackenzie Burns, she's an accident victim. Physically, she's okay, but has some recovering to do. She also seems mentally sound, except for one thing: when she first came in, she talked about her sister. I asked her a couple of hours ago if she wanted me to contact her. She's now claiming she doesn't have a sister."
"Mackenzie Burns. That name doesn't ring any bells." Killian said.
"It shouldn't. She's an outsider."
"An outsider?" Emma repeated.
"How did she find us? How did even get past the bloody border?"
"That's why you're here, Deputy Jones. To get answers, and to get them quietly. I want for Miss Burns to continue her recovery here at the hospital, and for it to be peaceful. Neither of those things are going to happen if word gets out who she is."
"Okay, can you watch the baby for us?" Emma asked.
"Sure thing, but I want to make one thing clear: Miss Burns still has some ways to go in her recovery, and I don't like the idea of her becoming too agitated. Be gentle with her."
"I'm sorry, would you mind not looking at me when you say that?" Killian asked.
Emma rolled her eyes and allowed Dr. Whale to take over the stroller, while she and Killian stepped into Mackenzie's room.
"Miss Burns?" Emma said.
Mackenzie slowly turned her head towards Killian and Emma and gave them half a smile.
"I take it you're Sheriff Swan."
"That's right, and this is my husband, Deputy Killian Jones."
Mackenzie groaned as she pushed herself up her pillows. "It's a pleasure to meet you both, but I'm afraid you're wasting your time. I already told the doctor that I don't have a sister."
"Then why did you say you did?" Killian asked.
"I was just in accident, deputy, and in a helluva lot of pain. I wasn't exactly thinking clearly."
"If you don't mind my saying so, ma'am, that seems like an odd thing to make up even under those circumstances."
Mackenzie sighed deeply and closed her eyes. "All right, I do have a sister. Or I did. I haven't seen her for years, she disappeared one day and didn't come back. I didn't know where she was and I thought she had somehow got killed during the curse."
Emma and Killian flinched and gave each other a nervous glance.
"It's all right. I know everything. I'm from the Enchanted Forest."
Emma sighed in relief. "And you couldn't tell the doctor because...?
"I didn't trust him. I didn't recognize him. You, on the other hand...well, I've heard many things about you, Miss Swan. All good, I assure you."
"So is Mackenzie your curse name?"
"No. It's my real name. You see, I didn't exactly come over with the first curse. During that time, I'd been in the untouched lands for...for reasons. I was upset when I learned everyone I ever knew was gone and I spent years trying to find a way here. Five years ago, I finally did. Only I wasn't taken to Maine, I was taken to New Jersey."
"Not exactly Storybrooke." Emma muttered.
"Well, it's been home. Through a contact, I was able to track down the last known location of my sister. I drove for hours without sleeping, and just I was getting close to town, my eyes started to close, just for a second and then-"
"You ended up crashing." Emma finished.
Mackenzie scoffed. "Literally. I have to admit, I've been more at peace in the hospital than I have these past few days."
"All of this well and good, love, but you've still not told us: why don't you want to see your sister?"
"Because she's dead, Mr. Jones. Or, I think she is. I'm not sure. It's just a feeling I have."
"We can find out for you. Just tell us her name." Emma said.
"No. Not yet, anyway. After my sister had her child, we got into a rather nasty fight. We never really did get along, though it wasn't for lack of trying on my part. There's lots of bad blood between us, and if she is alive, I'd prefer to handle her on my own."
"How would you "handle her," Miss Burns?"
Mackenzie chuckled. "With words only, I assure you, Miss Swan."
"See it stays that way." Killian warned.
"You can trust me. Besides, it's not like I could do anything to her, anyway."
"Your accent. It's very familiar. Scottish?" Killian said.
"Aye, Scottish. What of it?"
"Know anybody by the name of Merida?"
Mackenzie sighed. "Not to my knowledge."
"How about Rumpelstiltskin?" Emma asked.
Mackenzie looked down at her lap. "Everyone knows The Dark One. Listen, I've heard talk that the seven realms have united, and that must mean there should be some Scots around."
"Some, but-"
"Then ask all of them. Study them, if you want and see if there's any resemblance, but in the meantime; please leave my room and stay away from me."
Mackenzie laid back down and turned on her side, away from Emma and Killian, who quietly started to walk out of the room.
"Sheriff Swan, what has become of The Dark One?" Mackenzie asked, not facing the couple.
"He died a few months ago." Emma said.
Mackenzie didn't say anything and Emma and Killian took it as their cue to leave and let her rest. They couldn't see the tears streaking Mackenzie's face as she started to cry.
