„Henry, this is doctor West. She takes care of your mother," Regina introduced Henry to Zelena when they stopped at the door to Emma's room. Henry looked up at the tall woman and offered her his hand. He was a polite boy after all. Zelena accepted and they shook hands briefly.
„Nice to meet you, doctor. Can I see my mother now?" he asked making puppy eyes at the redhead. She smiled and opened the door for Henry and Regina so they could enter the room. Henry gasped when he saw his mother in such a state. His left hand covered his mouth and he started sobbing.
Regina put her hand on his shoulder to let him know that she was there and that he didn't have to go through this alone. Henry got up from the wheelchair and slowly walked to Emma's bed. Regina made sure that he stays as close to his IV bag as he can.
„Mom? Can you hear me?" Henry asked his mother and lightly stroke her cheek. Then he looked at Regina, tears in the eyes.
„Can she hear me?" he added and gasped. If only he could talk to her but it seemed that she was in a deep sleep. Regina compassionately took Henry's free hand and squeezed it. Without breaking the hand connection she checked Emma's vitals, the numbers and lines on the monitor and Emma's body, which was still covered in gauze and plasters.
„She is no longer on the respirator so there must have been some progress in her condition. I am sure your mother will wake up soon," Regina assumed and hoped that she was right. She wouldn't want to lie to Henry just because she wished for Emma to wake up as much as he did.
„I will ask doctor West about your mother later, ok?" promising him some more information about his mother Regina pulled Henry back to the wheelchair. It was time to get back to his bed.
„I don't want to go," Henry's eyes filled with tears while Regina arranged the blanket on his legs. She knelt down to be on the same level as Henry. Her hands grasped his and they shared a moment of silence both understanding each other without speaking. They left Emma's room and returned to the paediatric ward. Regina helped the ward nurse to put Henry back to his bed and after she promised him she would be back soon she left the room. Henry was left alone only with his thoughts and worries.
„Page doctor Whale. We will begin with Henry's treatment," Regina gave few orders to the medical staff and went to her office to prepare everything for the upcoming procedure. The first thing she had to do was to transfer more money to the hospital bank account to fund Henry's treatment. Even thought she knew how her mother would react she didn't care. Maybe Emma wasn't worthy of her but Henry absolutely was. Pressing the „finish" button she completed the transfer. Now she had to speak with doctor West and find out when Emma will be able to sign the consent with the procedure she planned for Henry. Her feet led her to the burn unit.
„Zelena?" she called after the redhead when she saw her passing through the corridor. Zelena turned around in order to find out who called her.
„Regina, what happened?" Zelena asked stopping in the middle of the hallway waiting for Regina to reach her so they wouldn't scream at the whole ward.
„When do you think Emma could wake up?" Regina asked ignoring doctor West's surprised look on her face when hearing her colleague addressing the blond patient by her first name.
„I was just about to page you. Right after you and Henry left she woke up," Zelena informed her friend. Regina's heart skipped a beat. „Finally" she thought.
„So can I see her now?" Regina was eager to run to Emma's bedside. One would think that the main reason was Henry and the consent for the treatment but Regina needed to see her, to talk to her, to hear her voice. Her reasons were a little bit selfish. Yes, she cared for Henry, of course but the need to look in the blonde's eyes and hearing her voice was stronger than anything else.
„Why?" Zelena asked wondering why Regina was so enthusiastic about her visit.
„I need her consent with Henry's treatment," Regina used the only excuse she could in front of her colleague. She couldn't risk anyone else to know what she felt for the woman so she bet everything on the medical side of the thing.
„Just be quick, ok?" Zelena begged her not to keep Emma from her rest or sleep.
„Sure, thanks," Regina said while turning on her heels. She walked towards Emma's room and grabbed the handle. She hesitated for a moment. What if Emma knows? What if Emma could sense her presence the day when she was brought to the hospital? Could she feel Regina's fingers on her skin and the soft kiss on her forehead? She swallowed hard and enetered the room. Emma was lying on the bed looking like a princess under a sleeping curse. If Regina ignored all the white bandages and plasters all over her body she surely looked like a princess that was waiting to be kissed and woken up.
„Miss Swan?" Regina said Emma's name to make sure she was awake.
„Doctor Mills, hi," Emma whispered like if she didn't have much strength to use her voice fully.
„Yes, it's me. Hi. How are you feeling?" Regina crossed the room and stood by Emma's bed looking at the patient with compassion. As much as she tried to keep her distance from this woman she couldn't help herself. She couldn't imagine what was Emma going through but she felt her pain, her worries, her insecurity.
„Like a burnt pizza," Emma joked and it made Regina giggle.
„How's Henry?" she collected as much strength as she could to speak out loud. Emma didn't have the strength to open her eyes. She really wanted to see Regina's face, to look into her brown eyes but it felt like something that could bring her more pain, not only the physical pain but also the emotional pain.
„He is fine. The surgery went well and now we can start the treatment. Would you please allow us to proceed? I need your consent," Regina wasn't the person who would lose time so she went straight to the business.
„Mo...ney?" Emma coughed.
„Don't worry about the money now, we can discuss it later," Regina wanted Emma to not worry about her financial situation now. Henry was the main interest of both women.
„Ok," Emma said and tried to push herself up into the seating position. Regina put both her hands on Emma's shoulders and pressed her back into the mattress.
„Shh, lay down," Regina whispered feeling Emma's body relax under her touch. Emma surrendered to the brunette's gentle grip. It felt better than any of the healing ointments the doctors have been putting on her skin. Regina was about to pull her hands back when she heard Emma's silent voice.
„Thank you," the blond woman whispered and under the weight of tiredness she fell asleep.
Regina couldn't move her eyes off the woman and she literally thanked the god for bringing her back to her, to Henry. She felt relieved that Emma didn't mention anything that happened between them the day when Regina visited her here for the first time. She probably didn't remember anything which was good for Regina. She wasn't ready to open up to Emma about her feelings yet and now it wouldn't be the best time to do so. Hearing her mother's voice in her head she closed her eyes as if she was in physical pain.
„Make sure it stays that way. She is not worthy of you, you deserve better," she heard her mother's last words and then realized that her position at the hospital was at stake if she doesn't keep herself away from the blond woman. A single tear left her eye and rolled down her cheek. Gently touching Emma's cheek she said the silent goodbye and left the room.
TBC
