Regina busted into the Charming's loft in a cloud of purple magic. Before she was even fully formed she demanded, "Where is she?"
Snow and Charming jumped back into each other's arms startled by the sudden intrusion. "She's upstairs."
"Why didn't you call me sooner?" Regina raced across the main room and started up the steep ladder to Emma's room.
"We called as soon as I brought her back," Charming explained in defensive worry.
"Please heal her, Regina," Snow pleaded as she picked up baby Neal and held him close. "How can we help?"
"You can help by staying away," Regina yelled frantically as she got to the top of the stairs and opened the door to Emma's bedroom without knocking. She stopped in her tracks as she took in the bloody and battered sight splayed out on the bed. Emma was groaning in pain.
"Oh, Emma…" Regina's mouth fell open and she crossed the room in two big steps, holding out her trembling hands in fear. "Why didn't they take you to the hospital?"
"I'm fine," Emma sputtered from the bed she pulled the sheet up to her neck and cracked one eye open to look up at Regina pitifully. "Just a little flesh wound. Need to sleep it off."
There was no sleeping off a flesh wound. Regina tutted at the lie and gently pulled back the sheet to see the damage. Emma's shirt was ripped in tatters, and her tender flank below her ribs had a big pink bloody chunk taken right out of it.
"Ow," she deadpanned before Regina had even touched her.
"How did this happen?" Regina perched herself carefully on the side of the bed, putting her butt near Emma's face, and bent over to examine the injury closely. She let her fingers hover over the nasty gash. With concentrated effort she summoned her magic to do her best to heal her, but it would take time and energy to fully mend itself. It was deeper than magic could reach. A white light enveloped the area and Emma hissed at the strange feeling of her skin closing over.
After Regina finished healing what she could her main priority was to simultaneously make the woman as comfortable as possible and chastise her for going off and getting hurt. She needed to know what happened.
"Does it still hurt?" Regina asked quietly, as she brushed dried leaves and mulch out of Emma's hair.
"My whole body is so sore. I can barely move," Emma whined, but looked up at Regina meaningfully. "Thank you, it's definitely a lot better now."
Regina nodded and stood up, she didn't let Emma see the deep shuddery breath she took as she closed her eyes and placed her hand over her stomach in a gesture of self comfort. The aching sick feeling that had come over her when she got the call from David that Emma had been found in the woods barely breathing and bleeding hadn't left her until she'd gotten to Emma's side and healed her.
She cleared her throat, "Are you going to tell me how you ended up this way?" Regina asked trying to keep her voice hard and scolding, but it came out breathier than she intended.
"In a minute," Emma muttered, as she tried to turn over in bed. Regina automatically went to help her, holding her arms and letting Emma brace herself against her for leverage. Fluffing the pillows behind her back, she sat Emma against them and frowned at the sight of her ruined shirt.
Turning away again, she rummaged through her closet bringing out an extra blanket and draping it over Emma's lap. Then she helped herself to the other woman's dresser, easily finding a clean, intact tank top. "Lift your arms," Regina commanded as she brought over the new shirt. Emma did obediently and Regina pulled the remains of her shirt over her head and held out the clean one.
"Oh, can you help me take off my bra?" Emma asked sheepishly. "My arms are really sore and I'd… be more comfortable."
"Of course," Regina nodded and pursed her lips. "Lean forward."
Emma did as told. Regina pushed her hair over her shoulder and placed a warm hand between Emma's shoulder blades, rubbing in soothing circles thoughtlessly. Emma hummed in pleasure and rolled her neck from side to side.
Making quick work of the clasp, she guided the bra off of Emma's arms, surprised when Emma made no move to cover her breasts. She simply lifted her arms and Regina threaded the tank over her head and guided her hands through the arm holes. Albeit, a bit distractedly as she tried to fight the rising heat of a blush she felt at seeing the open and intimate display.
She slowly rolled the thin fabric down over Emma's clavicle and worked it lower, where the material became snug over Emma's pliable knockers. When Regina's thumb scratched over a pretty pink nipple, both women noticed when it became erect, and Emma's breath hitched softly. "Sorry," she mumbled and pushed Regina's hands away, yanking the shirt down to her waist without assistance. A silence crept over the room; the afternoon sun was low and orange filtering through the blinds in the second story bedroom.
Regina straightened up and shifted her weight. She crossed her arms expectantly. Emma gave a forced toothy smile.
"Right so…"
Emma trailed off and looked toward the window.
"What's wrong?" Regina asked instantly her gaze fixed intensely on the blonde.
"It's just nice that you came to help me out. I appreciate it."
At that Regina relaxed and released a long held sigh. "May I sit with you?"
"Yeah," Emma made like she wanted to scoot over, but her attempt left her with a pained expression, so Regina simply kicked off her shoes and removed her jacket. She slid back the covers and got into bed. They were close, very close, and in silent communication, Regina leaned against the pillows, while Emma melded easily into her side and rested her head on Regina's chest. In a move that surprised them both, but felt entirely right and natural, Regina brought her arms around Emma's waist and clasped them to gently encircle her.
"Okay?" Regina murmured into her hair.
"Very," Emma sighed in contentment. They sat for a long moment soaking one another in and basking in their combined warmth in the quiet.
"I got a call about suspicious activity around the Toll Bridge… or rather under the Toll bridge," Emma said, recounting the story. "The caller thought that someone or something has been living under it, and then they got harassed by whatever was under there."
"Trolls?" Regina asked, lifting her eyebrow.
"Bingo," Emma confirmed. "So I went to check it out and got into a scuffle after I talked to them."
Regina shook her head, "Why didn't you call me immediately? Trolls are vicious creatures and if they are reverting back to their old ways, they can be very dangerous."
"Yeah, I found that out when one of them got me with its Velociraptor claw," Emma managed a weak chuckle and relaxed further into Regina's grasp when she tightened her hold around her possessively.
"You didn't answer why you didn't call me…I mean anyone?" Regina couldn't help but sound needy and stressed.
"Troll ate my phone," Emma rolled her eyes. "Well, I gave it to him in exchange for another guess at the trivia question. I thought it was like a phone a friend lifeline deal, but then he shoved my iPhone in his mouth and chewed."
Regina was shocked, "You should have taken me with you! Rule number one: do not negotiate with trolls. Rule number two: do not feed the trolls."
"I know that now," Emma huffed. "I could have used you actually. Who the hell knows the top three Billboard hits of 1983?"
"Every Breath You Take, Billie Jean, and Flashdance…What a Feeling," Regina answered easily.
Emma squirmed gently in her arms, "You always win on Granny's Pub Quiz Night…"
"I'm better at 1984 trivial pursuit, but yes, I could have prevented this," Regina breathed in the scent of her hair and realized how close she had been to losing Emma. The trolls were beasts and ever since the curse broke and magic came back they had reverted more and more, but clearly still retained some modern ways: like curse year trivia and riddles.
"I guessed Total Eclipse of the Heart," Emma pouted sadly. "That's when they got enraged."
Regina was seething. "I'm going to kill them all."
"Maybe we'll just go trap them in a magic net and take them out to sea," Emma suggested with a faraway look. "I don't want to think about it anymore."
"Of course, you need your rest," Regina snapped back to her senses and started to disentangle herself until Emma placed a hand on her wrist and turned her head to look up at her.
"Actually, would you mind staying for a bit?"
Regina settled back down wordlessly and readjusted the pillows and held Emma stretch out so they could lie down fully and spoon up in a comfy dreamy cuddle. Regina felt so much better knowing Emma was okay and in her arms. They were lost in their own thoughts as the couple drifted off to sleep with the setting sun.
"Total Eclipse of the Heart was number 6," Regina whispered as her breath evened out and they both fell under a healing blanket of sleep.