Chapter 9 This Town And Their Rabbles

"How is she?" Snow asked the moment Emma came down from the loft the next morning. She was in the kitchen making oatmeal for breakfast. Emma had stayed with Regina even after she'd fallen asleep. Henry didn't mind moving to the couch for the rest of the night.

"I don't know, she's still sleeping," Emma said, sitting at the breakfast counter and taking the cup of coffee Snow handed to her. "The bastard really scared her and Regina doesn't scare easily. She is the one that people are afraid of."

"Yes, but she tends to hold in her emotions," Snow said and then Neal started crying from the bedroom. Snow turned off the stove and went to tend to her son, leaving Emma with her thoughts.

Henry suddenly came out of the bathroom and sat beside her, shaking her from conflicting thoughts on his adoptive mother. David took the bathroom after Henry to get ready to go into the station with Emma.

"How's mom?" he asked.

"I don't know," she sighed.

"She does that a lot," he said and Emma looked at him curiously. "She's hides her feelings," he clarified.

"Yeah," she sighed. "That's what Mary Margaret said."

"Just be patient with her," he said, suddenly sounding older than his 12 years of age. "She still has trouble letting down her walls."

"When did you grow up?" she asked, playfully shoving his shoulder and he let out a laugh.

"Mom, I'm serious," he said more calmly, sobering up and Emma sighed because he was right.

"I know kid."

Regina came down at that moment, dressed and ready for the day. Henry lit up when he saw her and got up, embracing her tightly and convincing her to sit down and eat. Regina wasn't really hungry after what happened last night. She took a few bites of oatmeal just so she wouldn't worry him. She mostly drank the much needed coffee Emma had poured for her.

Her mask was on and Emma could tell. She was keeping a brave face for her son.

Regina had insisted they drive Henry to school first. She didn't feel comfortable enough to let him take the school bus when someone was after her. Hurting her meant hurting Henry so Emma dropped Henry off and they waited until he was safely inside the building until driving to the station. Now that Snow was the new mayor, she went into the office with Neal while Emma and Regina went with David to figure out the new villain in town. When they got there another mob was waiting outside the station just like that day when Elsa had frozen the barn and they blamed Regina.

"Wait here," Emma told Regina as she and David started getting out of the yellow bug.

"I could take care of myself," Regina grumbled and well… who was Emma kidding. Regina did what she wanted no matter how dangerous it was. Regina got out of the car and people started shouting.

"The old fisherman was killed by the Queen!"

"Murderer!"

"She's evil!"

"We have no proof it was her!" David shouted.

"And it wasn't!" Emma snapped with Regina standing beside her.

"Then who was it?" Grumpy asked. "So far she's the only one with a track record big enough with murder. She's picking us off one by one!"

"Why would I waste precious time picking you idiots off one by one," Regina snarled and some people shrank back in fear.

"I don't know. Maybe you want your job back. It ain't happening sister," Grumpy said and Emma couldn't help rolling her eyes. If these people only knew what was really going on. They'd realize how pathetic they sounded.

"I've made it clear before," David announced. "It isn't Regina. We have this under control."

"Are you kidding me? Someone died!" Grumpy exclaimed in disbelief.

"Trust us on this. Trust Snow," he said and Grumpy finally relented even if he still believed it was Regina. He and the crowd left but not before shooting Regina dirty looks or grumbling threats under their breaths.

"This town and their rabbles," Regina growled angrily and stalked up to the station doors. She was sick of the constant blame whenever this town fell prey to new villains and curses.

"At least she didn't throw fireballs this time," Emma told David as they followed after her.

They spent the day coming up with a list of suspects. A really long list of suspects that was nearly impossible to narrow down. At the top of the list were people who worked in the castle when Regina was Queen and was stilled married to Leopold.

Looking up names and getting background checks lasted late into the evening. David had gone home after 6 to help Snow with Henry and Neal, leaving Regina and Emma at the station. Regina had remained unusually quiet and Emma could see she was doing that thing where she pushed down her emotions and put on the mask that made it seemed she was ok.

"Can I ask you something and please be honest," she said and Regina looked at her. Her brown eyes curious as to what the sheriff had to say to her. She nodded for her to continue.

"How are you doing?" she asked and Regina's eyes widened, the anxiety showing for a second before she took control and schooled her features as if that question hadn't bothered her.

"I'm fine." She couldn't even look at Emma from across the desk they were both sitting at. She wasn't fine.

"No, don't do that," Emma said, shaking her head. "Don't hold everything in and just say you're fine because I know you're not so let me ask you again. How are you doing?"

"We have killer on the loose," Regina stated with frustration. She was losing her patience with Emma's attempt on getting her to open up, but Emma could see the spark of fear in her eyes. She was afraid to open up. "We don't have time to talk about my feelings!"

"I think we do," Emma told her evenly, not one to beat around the bush. "What about last night?"

"What about last night?" Regina questioned angrily, slamming the file in her hands down on the desk.

"The creep scared you so bad you were hyperventilating, or do you not remember?" Emma asked harshly and Regina flinched. Emma frowned in concern because Regina always faced her head on. Regina wasn't herself right now. She was on edge. The cold hard expression was suddenly gone and Emma was shocked to see the range of fear and vulnerability in her face.

"I… He…" Regina stuttered and then shook her head to try and reign in her storm of emotions long enough to speak. "I'm not good at this."

"I know," Emma said with a soft encouraging smile, her hand reaching across the desk and taking Regina's. Regina looked down at their joined hands as if she couldn't quite figure out why Emma was showing this kind of affection. She still couldn't believe Emma wanted to be her friend without any strings attached.

"I'm not myself right now."

"See, that's a start," Emma said with a gentle squeeze of her hand before pulling away. Regina didn't say anything else after and as timed passed they were once again immersed with their work, that is until they heard a noise down the hall that led to the main door.

"What was that?" Regina asked, both of them quickly getting to their feet. Emma's hand rested on her service weapon.

"Stay here," Emma said, pulling out her gun and aiming it forward.

"No, I'm coming with you," Regina demanded, a fireball forming in her hand and Emma knew there was no persuading her to stay behind. They moved down the hall, not seeing the source of the noise.

"I think it came from outside," Regina whispered and Emma cautiously opened the door just a crack until something seemed to catch her eye.

"What is it?" Regina asked as Emma opened the door wider and knelt down to pick something up. She stood, closing the door and Regina saw what Emma had found. It was a small box, just like the ones Regina used to store hearts in and also, there was another letter.

"You've got to be kidding me," Emma grumbled angrily and walked ahead of Regina down the hall. Regina followed her, shivering at the thought of her stalker being so close to them. When they were back in the main room Emma noticed how pale Regina had become.

"Regina?" she whispered, worriedly.

"He was here?" she asked, her voice shaking and it terrified Emma that Regina was afraid of this man because like she said to Snow that morning, Regina didn't scare easily.

"He didn't stick around to show his pathetic face. It looked like he just dropped this off," she said and Regina took it with shaking hands, their fingers brushing for a second. She hesitated, her eyes memorized to the wooden box and when she finally opened it, her eyes swirled with anger. Her grip tightened on the box and her expression turned dark and cold.

"What is it? Regina?" Emma asked and when she didn't respond she gently pried the box from her hands and nearly dropped it at what she saw. She closed the lid, her heart pounding in her chest and she could feel the bile threatening to come up.

"Is… Is that…"

"The fisherman's heart," Regina finally spoke, answering Emma's unasked question. It was an actual real heart that laid in the box, bloody and all. It wasn't fixed with magic.

"The letter… What does it say?" Emma asked and Regina seemed to be pulled from the dark angry trance she had been in. Her eyes flickered and Emma could see the fear. She could see the way her hands trembled and her uneven breaths as she took the letter from Emma and ripped it open.

My Dear Queen,

The heart of the old man. Do you like it? I know you have a certain fondness over hearts seeing as you had taken mine so very long ago. Is this what I have to do to get you to love me? One more thing my love. I'm watching your every move. I know that you're staying with the naïve sheriff. She will never give you what I could.

Who but me could love someone so dark and evil? The sheriff certainly can't…

Next time my love, I'll finally have you.

"What does it say?" Emma asked and Regina silently handed her the letter. She read over it, fuming at the very words that this insane person had written.

"He'll have you over my dead body," she muttered, completely ignoring the part where she was mentioned because she wasn't… She didn't have feelings for the woman who drove her crazy since the day she's met her. Regina didn't bring it up either. "Come on, let's go home," she said, deciding they looked over enough files today. Regina was too shaken to spend another minute in the station.

"Actually, I need a drink," the brunette stated and Emma found herself agreeing to Granny's even if she thought it be best if they went home. It didn't matter anyway. He was watching Regina wherever they went.

The hostile glares didn't go unnoticed when they entered the diner and took a booth at the back of the diner. People were whispering and shooting accusatory looks. Emma sent a few glares back and even told a few vocal people to back off. The whole town knew about the murder and they were viciously blaming Regina.

"Are you sure you don't want to go home?" Emma asked as Ruby brought them their drinks. A beer for Emma and cider for Regina.

"I'm not running away with my tail between my legs," she practically growled before taking a drink of her cider. She made a face at the strange taste, but didn't put much thought into it beside it being a cheap diner brand. Emma caught the look of disgust and smirked.

"What? Not your expensive brand?"

"This watered down version hardly qualifies for cider and besides, I make my own," Regina said, taking another sip. Emma however barely even heard what she said. Her eyes were fixed on the guy at the bar laughing obnoxiously with his three friends and occasionally shooting a few glares at Regina.

It was the guy that had strangled Regina at the barn Elsa had frozen and it clicked. Could this be Regina's stalker? It had to be. She couldn't explain that bloodthirsty look in his eyes as he tried chocking the life out of the former Queen.

She should probably investigate first and find some actual proof it's him, but…

"You," her voice dark and her eyes fixed on his sickening grin. She wasn't thinking clearly and it had to be the exhaustion because she hadn't taken one sip of her beer yet. She really should have questioned him first, but the thought of this bastard going after Regina made her furious. After what happened tonight… Well she had little to no self-control at this point.

"Emma?" Regina looked up at her but couldn't stop her and instead watched her walk up to the man who had strangled her.

"It's you isn't it!" she yelled, getting his attention and the whole diner fell silent.

"What are you…" he started too angrily speak but didn't get to finish when Emma violently grabbed the collar of shirt. She got up in his face and the whole diner was radiating with her fury. No one noticed Regina at the back suddenly looking disoriented.

"I warned you what would happen if you came after her again. She won't hesitate to burn you to a crisp after all the sick…" she trailed off when he started to laugh. His eyes were fixed behind her and she turned in time to see Regina falling off the booth and onto the floor.

It was quick but to Emma time slowed down and she cried out when Regina's head smacked against the tiles. The feeling of rough arms restraining her brought her sense of time back and she violently struggled against the largest of the man's friends.

They were laughing and somewhere behind her, she could hear Ruby's angry protests as they held her back as well. Granny had been knocked out.

"Get the Queen," their ringleader announced, the man who Emma believed to be Regina's stalker. He watched gleefully as they lifted a barely conscious Regina to her feet and tied her wrists with rope.

"You drugged her!" Emma spat and he turned his cruel blue eyes on her.

"She murdered that poor old man. She's a witch and in our world we hanged evil witches like her," he said and Emma realized she was wrong. This wasn't Regina's stalker. This man's plans to kill didn't match up with what the stalker wanted. She had made everything so much worse than it could've been. She could have been at Regina's side the moment the drugs took effect. Guilt weighed heavily inside her as she realized she shouldn't have left her.

"We're not in your world," Emma told him, her voice low and dark as she struggled to free herself. She needed to get to Regina.

"It doesn't matter," he laughed. "Now, I was just going to leave you tied up with your two friends here," he said, referring to both Granny and Ruby tied up on the floor. "But since you and the Evil Queen are best friends, you get to watch." He moved away, walking towards Regina and Emma started to panic when her hands were suddenly being tied behind her back. She kicked and screamed at Regina to use her magic, but it was no use. Regina was too disoriented from the drugs. She was practically immobilized.

All Emma could do was watch and scream as the ringleader pulled back and hit Regina in the face with his fist. She fell to the floor, whimpering from the pain. Blood streamed down from her lip and she couldn't even shield herself when the man started viciously kicking her.

Whatever drug he gave her had to be a muscle relaxant because Regina couldn't move. She couldn't speak and she seemed so disoriented and confused. She was crying though and that meant she still felt pain and Emma saw red.

She stomp on her captor's foot and when he released her arms, she elbowed him in the face. He howled in pain and she ran as best as she could with her tied wrists towards Ruby, kicking over a kitchen knife. She knew she wouldn't have made it out and getting Ruby the knife was her best chance. They were all so focused on restraining Emma that they didn't even notice Ruby catching on to Emma's silent plea and hiding the knife under her unconscious grandmother. Once they left, Ruby would cut herself loose and run for help.

The ringleader finally stopped beating Regina and angrily stalked up to Emma, smacking her hard and Emma spit out blood.

"Well that was stupid sheriff."

"What do we do with her Khan?" one of the three thugs asked.

"Khan?" Emma asked, the name sounding familiar and then she groaned in annoyance as she realized who this guys was. "Shere Khan from the Jungle Book? Are you kidding me right now?"

"Ah, now you know who I am," he sneered and then knelt to Regina. He grabbed a handful of her hair, lifting her head and she let out a sob as he forced her unfocused eyes on him. "It's time you get what you deserve your majesty," he pushed her back down and led the way to the door. Two of the men grabbed each of Regina arms and practically dragged her. Emma was pushed forward and they were led through the sudden night rain to the muddy lawn infront of the town hall.

Kahn and his buddies had rallied up a mob and people were now gathering, cheering on the execution of the Queen. This was sick and Emma could feel the bile turning in her stomach. She was going to be sick. She was freezing and soaked to the bone with rain water and mud.

Regina was no better. She was shaking, wet, and muddy and her jacket had been left at the diner leaving her exposed to the elements. Her heels had fallen off and her feet were bleeding and muddy from being dragged. She was thrown roughly to the floor again and Emma cried through the rain as Khan allowed his thugs to beat her.

"Regina!" she shouted through her own tears, struggling even when it was no use. "Stop! You're going to kill her!" She heard them laugh and then Khan ordered them to stop long enough to put the noose around Regina's neck.

"Nooo! Someone help!" she screamed, really starting to panic now. She wished she had a better handle on her magic. Right now she couldn't focus enough to even access it. Using her magic was useless right now.

Her vision was blurry from her tears and the rain, but she could see Regina looking at her from where she lied bloody and beaten on the ground. Her breaths were labored and raspy as if she couldn't breathe. Blood seeped from her mouth and lips.

"I'm sorry," she cried. "Regina, I'm so sorry."

"Mmm… Em…" she mumbled, trying to say Emma's name but everything was foggy and her lips and tongue didn't seem to work. All she was aware of was the deep pain in her body and the numbness in her head, but then she was looking at green eyes and she remembered Emma.

"Get up, please get up," Emma whispered, knowing it was futile, because whatever drugs surged through Regina's system, subdued her magic and kept her from fighting back.

And then Kahn was grabbing a whole of the rope and lifting Regina unsteadily to her knees. The noose around her neck was tight and she gasped for air.

"Let this be an example of what we do to villains who threaten our livelihood! Let this be our redemption for all of our sufferings! Let this be our revenge! The death of the Evil Queen!" The crowd cheered and Khan brutally yanked the noose back making Regina fall on her back. He dragged her closer to the tree and threw the rope around the branch and pulled.

Emma screamed, terror surging through her entire body as Regina was pulled higher up, choking as the noose tightened around her neck.

And then it happened all so fast.

The audience screamed and an arrow was wedge right into Kahn's hand… the hand that had been holding the rope. Regina fell violently to the ground and everyone turned to see Snow standing on the hood of David's truck, bow in hand.

"Leave them alone," Snow demanded darkly, a hint of the bandit coming out of her in this moment as she protected her loved ones. Kahn looked stunned and pained and as he tore the arrow from his hand, Emma felt her captor releasing her. She turned to see him unconscious on the ground where David had appeared out of nowhere. He had snuck up behind him and knocked him on the head.

"David…"

"Ruby came for help. She's with Henry and Neal. They're safe," he said, untying her wrists and she was relieved only for a moment before turning her attention to Kahn and the crowd before them. Snow had her arrow pointed at Kahn's heart. She and David both pointed their guns at his thugs.

"Everyone go home!" Emma shouted. "Or you'll be sharing a cell with tiger here." Many protested, shouting how "Regina's murder" shouldn't go unpunished, but then they started to disperse. Emma and Snow kept their weapons pointed as David cuffed the three thugs, including the unconscious one.

"She's a murderer, you fools!" Khan snapped and cried out in agony when David cuffed his injured hand.

"You're no better then what she once was," David growled and knocked him out with his gun. No one wanted to hear his pleas.

Now that it was safe, Emma dropped her gun and ran to Regina. She dropped to the muddy ground, pulling Regina halfway onto her lap. Regina whimpered, fear flashing across her face as she still struggled to breathe.

"It's ok. It's me, Emma," she said softly and removed the tight noose from her neck. "I got you. You're safe."

"How is she?" Snow asked worriedly, kneeling down and reaching out to caress Regina's already bruised cheek. She didn't seem aware. Her unfocused eyes were fixed on Emma.

"The bastard drugged her. We need to get her to the hospital," she answered shakily, holding Regina close to her chest. She was shaking and Emma tried warming her up with as much body heat she could offer.

"Come on, we'll drop you off," David offered. "And then Snow and I can lock these idiots up."