And Chapter 2 for you. The rest needs more editing. I'm hoping to do at least a chapter every other day as this story doesn't require that I follow closely with the canon storyline unlike my other stories.
Slight violence in this chapter, nothing graphic.
Reviews and suggestions are always appreciated. Enjoy, My Doves!
Regina sat the cuffs gently onto the deputy's desk and then went straight to the cell that hadn't been damaged by the wraith and sat primly on the edge of the bed. Her tightened face muscles told Emma that the older woman was in pain, and the sheriff followed her into the cell and knelt in front of her. Regina stiffened but said nothing as Emma visually inspected the tear in her black slacks.
"I only need a first aid kit, Miss Swan. Nothing more," Regina said suddenly and tensed when Emma raised her hand to move the fabric aside.
Emma nodded and scampered off to grab the large kit on the wall. She placed it on the bed and then left the cell again to fetch Regina something to change into so that she could tend to her wound more easily. She wrinkled her nose when she realized that the only thing she had were her work out clothes. Regina would scowl and toss a hissy fit, but she'd get over it or sleep with no pants. Emma smiled at that thought, and then berated herself as she changed into her own shorts and ratty t-shirt and lugged her body back towards the cells. That woman had been demeaned enough, and being forced to sleep exposed would only destroy their tenuous truce.
"Regina, I'll go get you some clothes tomorrow, I promise, but could please just…" Emma's words were lost when she reentered the room to find the prim and proper Mayor Mills, Former Evil Queen in nothing but her underwear and the black camisole that she'd worn under her blazer for the past two days.
Her black suit lay in a heap of designer rumple in the corner of the cell along with her boots, making her a good four inches shorter than usual, if not more. She fixed Emma with a glare, momentarily surprised at the invasion and then returned her eyes to her thigh. Dark locks fell across her face, and Emma couldn't help but notice how striking the motion was. She had called Regina many things, to her face and under her breath, but she'd never even thought the word ugly, at least not where her physicality was concerned.
"Do you need help?" Emma cleared her throat when the question strained against her anxiety and surprise by the mayor's bold actions.
"Yes," the reply was so soft that Emma question whether or not it was actually spoken or if she'd imagined it.
When Emma didn't move, Regina glare at her again and then flicked her eyes to her leg as if to say 'Why the hell are so thick?' It inspired Emma to spring forward into the cell. She tossed the clothes onto the bed and then knelt in front of Regina. It was insanely awkward for both women. Regina stared at the wall and Emma stared only the gashes on Regina's thigh. The one on top had nearly stopped bleeding; only a small trickle leaked onto the creamy flesh at random intervals. The one on the bottom of Regina's thigh, however, gushed and spurted, the trickle nearly reaching Regina's ankle before Emma could cover it with a piece of used gauze.
"Regina, this one is really bad," Emma said needlessly and more to herself than the woman standing over her.
"You needn't inform me of the severity, Miss Swan. I've felt it leaking into my shoe since we began our journey," Regina snapped.
Emma snorted and ignored her, feeling some of their comfortable volley of words return.
"I'm going to tape a bunch of gauze on it and take care of this one first, okay?" Emma caught her eyes, taking her silence as enough confirmation to proceed. She wadded a bunch of gauze pads onto the larger gash on the back of Regina's leg and taped them tightly.
"This would be easier if you'd sit down." Emma gestured towards the bed, wondering just how much Regina would tolerate before lashing out again. To Emma's surprise and relief, the mayor simply did as suggested. Her pain was far greater than she let on, and Emma smiled at her stoicism, knowing if the situation were reversed she'd be reacting the same exact way.
Regina said nothing as Emma carefully cleaned the smaller gash with apt attention. She was grateful, even if she'd never say it. If her wounds became infected, she'd die from it before the hospital offered her any assistance. Emma seemed to understand the importance as well; either that or she simply threw herself at the task so that she wouldn't have to think about the events that transpired not even an hour ago. Emma slathered the antibacterial gel onto the gauze pad, probably more than was needed, and then pressed it gently to Regina's thigh.
"If you'd told me you were hurt, I wouldn't have made you walk all the way here," Emma said suddenly. Irritation laced her voice, and Regina mentally prepared herself for the word spar she sensed coming. If she were honest with herself, she hadn't the energy required for such a task at the moment, but she refused Emma Swan the satisfaction of getting one up on her, especially since she was willingly allowing Emma to care for her injuries.
"I am not a charity case, Sheriff," Regina bit. "I neither desire nor deserve more than what you have already done."
"Just… shut up," Emma commanded, and to the surprise of both, Regina actually clamped her mouth shut with an audible click of her teeth. Smug, Emma pressed her luck one more time. "Now, lay on your stomach so I can get this over with. I'm not your damn nursemaid."
Regina complied easily enough, but once she'd settled herself onto the bed, she finally retaliated. "A nursemaid, typically, is referred to when one is speaking about children. The term is that of a glorified nanny, Miss Swan, something akin to what you've been to Henry for the past year. The proper term you are fumbling for would be attendant or healer."
Regina gasped and clutched the rough blanket in her hands when a stinging pang shot through her leg and settled in a slow burn on her thigh. Emma smirked and recapped the rubbing alcohol. Regina hissed again, and guilt pooled in the pit of Emma's stomach. She unconsciously gripped Regina's toned calf and pulled herself forward. She blew gently on the wound, watching the tension slowly leave Regina's body. It was a dirty move to shut the mayor up, but it had worked.
She dabbed and pressed on the gash, but the bleeding only slowed slightly. Emma blew hair from her face, mildly disconcerted that Regina's blood was all over her hands. She spared a glance up Regina's back, but the woman's face was turned away from her. Her ridged back and shoulder muscles, though, told Emma how much pain her nemesis was in, and it wasn't as satisfying as Emma had imagined. She wanted to make it go away, to take it away.
She jerked suddenly with the thought, and Regina hissed.
"Miss Swan, are you quite finished?" The mayor grumbled through clenched teeth, finally turning to look at the sheriff.
Her blonde hair stuck to her slightly sweaty forehead, face ashen. She stared at her hands, stained red with Regina's blood. The former evil queen almost felt sorry for the poor idiot spawn, almost. Her lips pulled into a sneer as she thought about what Snow White would say if she could see her darling daughter now, tending her wounds with the compassion of a lover. It fell only moments later when Emma's painfully confused eyes met hers.
"If you are going hurl, please kindly do it somewhere other than my cage," Regina's words were snippy, but her tone was gentle, much to her irritation. What did she care if Emma was uncomfortable? Because Emma Swan was the only thing standing between her and an angry lynch mob and whatever other magical beings they may conjure here to murder her… at least until her magic is fully restored.
"I can't get it to stop. It needs stitches, and I think there is something stuck in it. How the hell did you walk here with this?" Emma wondered out loud, but Regina felt the sheriff talked to herself more than to her.
"I've had much experience enduring pain," she confided quietly, hoping Emma was too engrossed with the blood on her hands to hear her.
Emma's bright green eyes snapped to hers again at the hushed confession. Ever since she she'd saved Regina from the wraith, the woman was being uncharacteristically honest with her, like she'd been bursting to tell her secrets to someone. Now that the cat was out of the bag, she had no reason left to hide them, and they were brewing and brimming the surface of her high thick walls.
"Call Granny," Regina blurted. At Emma's wrinkled brow and narrowed eyes, she sighed. "Her granddaughter is a werewolf. She will have local anesthetic and a suture kit."
"What makes you think she'd help?" Emma asked, keeping her tone as casual as possible. Now that she'd gotten Regina to crack the thick curtains on her heart, she feared they would slam shut before she had a chance to climb in the window. She leaned forward again and pressed another piece of gauze onto the wound, eyes focused forward. Perhaps if she averted her eyes, Regina wouldn't feel as uncomfortable… well, anymore than lying half naked in a public place with your sworn enemy holding your blood in your body with her bare hands.
"We've always had a soft spot for each other," Regina affirmed noncommittally. "She'll help."
Emma nodded in acknowledgement, saving the information for a later date, along with Regina's aversion to handcuffs, her lack of embarrassment for being half naked in front of her and her tolerance for pain. She pressed the now red pad down with the side of her hand and fumbled with the tape. After several strips, she managed to get it to partially stick.
"I'll be right back. Don't move, okay," Emma quietly instructed, and Regina settled her head back onto the pillow as if to say she'd behave in Emma's absence.
Emma scurried to the bathroom and washed her hands hastily. She'd never been squeamish about blood before, but seeing Regina's blood made her want to throw up. Regina didn't need anymore pain in her life, and this red sticky substance was only proof of the fact that she currently felt quite a bit, physically if not emotionally. Once she was satisfied that none would transfer to her phone, she jerked it out her pocket and called Granny. The woman was hesitant at first, but once Emma confided that Regina had asked for her personally, she agreed with a deep sigh.
Emma hung up as stepped into the light of the small office. Regina had obediently remained still but looked up expectantly when she heard the sheriff shuffling behind her. The fact that Regina was being so cooperative shook Emma to her core. Was she simply waiting for her magic to recharge before she killed her? Was it all a rouse or did Regina genuinely want a friend right now?
"She's on her way," Emma confirmed and then dug in the first aid kit for some gloves. She snapped them in place and then ripped open a fresh gauze pad. She didn't bother removing the one that was already soaked or the tape; they'd both peel away easily enough.
"So, we, uhh, we made magic together," Emma stuttered, careful to keep her gaze on her hands.
"Don't," Regina commanded, her hardened edge slipping back into her voice.
"I'm just trying to understand what happened tonight," Emma continued, undeterred by Regina's antics. "I mean, that was… what the hell was that?"
"How should I know? The hat was activated when you put your unseemly hands on me. What did you do?" Regina accused, hoping to thwart any other questions.
"I didn't do anything!" Emma squawked indignantly. "I thought you were the be all end all of magical power. You were the Evil Queen for God's sake. I didn't think touching you would make a difference. I don't know how magic works!"
"Clearly," agreed Regina but offered nothing else.
"Look, I have less than 24 hours of experience with this crap, and you've had what, 50 years at least. If we are going to work together, you need to help me with this crap." Emma's tight grip on her emotions slipped, and she pressed roughly into Regina's open wound.
Regina ground her teeth until her lips resembled something of a sneer. Apparently, pain was a fantastic motivator for the Evil Queen.
"Which means if you want to see Mommy and Daddy again, I suggest you think carefully on how much you piss me off!" It seemed Regina's control wore thin as well as her spiteful words hit home squarely in Emma Swan's chest.
"Just don't," she answered quietly, her low voice warning Regina that she barely held by a thread.
Emma squeezed her eyes shut in a valiant attempt to gain control. It failed, and she squeezed Regina's leg tighter. The woman beneath her hands squirmed as the object lodged within her leg bit and tore her muscles and ligaments with the heightened pressure. Her hand flung wildly towards Emma, nails catching her neck. Emma jerked away from Regina and fell onto her butt, hands ensuring that her jugular remained intact. They stared hard at each other until Regina's vision blurred with the betrayal of tears.
"Shit, I'm sorry. I didn't know I was pushing that hard," Emma apologize quickly and ripped her bloody gloves from her hands.
Now that they were free and wouldn't make a mess, she wasn't sure what to do with them, so they fell limply onto the linoleum beside her. What had she expected to do? Hug Regina? Rub her back until Granny got here with the anesthetic and whisper soothing words in her ear like she would Henry? She hadn't a clue about how to comfort someone; she couldn't even comfort herself. And why was she suddenly so keen to cause Regina physical pain? Did she just want to see how far she could push the former queen before she broke or was this making up for all the times she'd wanted to cause Regina pain but couldn't because of Henry? Henry wasn't here right now, and he'd never believe Regina. Is that why she'd sent him away.
Luckily, she didn't have to find the answers. Granny trudged into the station with her crossbow and a bag slung over her shoulder. She sat the crossbow on the desk along side the discarded handcuffs and planted her free hand on her hip. How long had Emma been sitting on the floor?
"You put that girl in cuffs?" She barked in her hard, gruffly voice, and Emma squirmed on the floor.
"Uhh, temporarily." Emma's mouth hung open at the tenderness in Granny's eyes, and she'd gotten away with calling Regina a girl.
Anyone else would have been met with a death glare with the promise of follow-thru. Emma once again spared a thought for what connection Granny could possibly have with Regina but dared not ask. She simply moved to the side and allowed Granny to work. She mumbled to herself as she cleaned the wound and dug out the shards of wood still deeply imbedded. Emma glanced between her and the back of Regina's head like a tennis match. What in the hell was happening in her town?
"Almost done, Girl," cooed Granny as she prepared some thick thread and a needle. "It ain't gonna be pretty,, but it will keep you from bleeding to death." She chuckled and then set to her task.
Regina said nothing, but the muscles in her back and shoulders had relaxed. If it weren't for the occasional snort or hum of agreement at Granny's ongoing commentary, Emma would have believed her to be asleep. Finally, the last stitch was in place, and Granny stood. She eyed Emma wearily as she prepared a gauze pad to cover the wound. How had she never seen it before? Granny love Regina. Not like a friend or a mayor, but perhaps maybe…like a daughter? Emma jumped when Granny's busty form suddenly filled her vision only inches from her face.
"You take care of that girl. She's fragile," Granny warned.
"Regina Mills is anything but fragile. She doesn't need me to take care of her." Emma retorted and crossed her arms self-consciously.
Granny glanced over her shoulder and then roughly pushed Emma towards the back entrance where she'd bypassed the crowd still hollering out front. Emma sighed and walked with the elder woman to the door. Clearly, she had more to say, but Emma just wanted to go to sleep. Regina Mills was a puzzle best left for a fresh mind.
"You take care of her," repeated Granny. "You may not think she needs it, but she does. She's like a river, that one." She jerked her head back towards the main office. "When all is calm, her water is smooth but it's deep. When her dam gates open, whoosh! You bet that pretty little ass of yours is going to get bounced off some rocks, probably your head, too."
Granny nodded her head as if what she'd said made perfect sense and disappeared into the night. What the hell just happened?
