Ok, I probably should've put an author's note to let everyone know I was editing and republishing the story. Been having some technical difficulties over here and I hope I haven't lost anyone Here, we get to see Emma/Jenna begin to use some of her magic. Usual Disclaimer applies.
"Jenna, I heard you decided to stay" a warm voice says behind me.
My throat contracts and my tongue suddenly swells, cutting my voice off. It's Graham, or Sheriff Graham, I should say. I count to three before I finally turn around, hoping my face isn't as red as an apple. He is smiling at me, and I do my best to muster up my courage, which has now dropped so low I have to look up to see the bottom of it.
"Yeah, a couple of people have asked me to, and, well, there was a job I kind of wanted" I wipe my sweaty bangs out of my face. I am in the middle of dragging my suitcase and box out of Granny's. Of course he decides to show up now.
"The Correction's Deputy, I saw that. Are you interested in law enforcement?"
"Uh, yeah, I guess. And I needed the money"
"Well, that's understandable" Graham said kindly as he walked even closer to me, "Do you need help with your moving?"
"No, not much to move" I say quickly. It just slipped out of me and I curse myself.
"Really?" he asks, sounding surprised as he looks in the back of my car. I feel self-conscious as his eyes widen at the few things I have with me. "Is that really all you have?"
"Yes. Have had several different homes, and I find that having few things makes moving a bit easier"
He smiles at me again. "Hopefully, that'll change soon. I'll see you bright and early Monday morning"
I find myself smiling back as he waves and continues down the street. This town is turning out to be more interesting that I had anticipated. Especially with the realization that I probably have family in this town. I stare at the newspaper clipping in my box. Luckily for me, the new apartment that Mr. Gold helped me find isn't far from here. I make a mental note to stop by the shop again to see if maybe he could point me in the right direction for more information on this article. A feeling of peace slips over me and I feel the tension that had been cramping up my shoulders begin ease. I think I'm actually going to like it here.
There was an angry slam of the shop door followed by a storm of high heels clicking.
"Gold, where the hell are you?" Regina was angry and her voice could be heard almost down the street.
"Taking inventory" Mr. Gold suddenly appeared behind the counter, "What can I do for you today, Madam Mayor"
"There is someone new in town" Regina paced through the shop, stopping to look as some items, "How the hell did she get here?"
"You said so yourself, tourists sometimes find there way through here" Mr. Gold smiled at her, "What's so different about this one?"
"This one's staying" she narrowed her eyes, "I want her gone, and I want her gone now. Our current deal, I'll double your price. Get her out"
"Oh, are you that afraid of her?" he asked his voice full of mock surprise.
"I don't like her" Regina almost growled, "She has no business here and she looks like cheap trash"
"Regina, I don't alter my deals. For our current deal, my price is the same. As for our new stranger…well if you want her out then you'll make a brand new deal with a separate price"
Regina stared at him for a moment, her glare doing it's best to kill him. Then she did something that Mr. Gold had not expected her to do.
Smiling, Regina leaned towards him, talking so low she was practically whispering. "You know what, I'm actually glad she's here. And I hope she stays for a good long time. Keep your week free Gold; We need more time to talk about this new deal"
With another glare, she turned and walked out of the shop, slamming the door on her way out.
Mr. Gold couldn't help but snicker. This was turning out to be way more entertaining than he had expected it to be.
Corrections Deputy. Translation; walking in a circle doing nothing. I have done this exact job when I was at the orphanage. I am a patrol, again. When I first started this job, I had though I was going to be in an office, helping the new Sheriff (I wish), or even working in the prison area. No, I am stuck in a hospital. For 'training purposes'. It's hasn't even been a week, and I'm already itching to see something new. It's evening now, so there aren't too many people here since most of the staff has gone home. What makes it odder is that there aren't even that many patients.
I stop by the cafeteria to get some coffee and begin my round again. There are a couple very bored looking nurses fiddling through old magazines. Other than that, the hospital is almost dead. Next time, I am bringing my MP3 Player. This is ridiculous. Something catches the corner of my eye and I turn. There is a hallway that I haven't seen before. There is no one else in sight, so I walk down. The lights down here don't work as well, giving the place a very eerie feeling all together. At the end of a hallway is a door that states in big bold letters, 'Authorized Personal Only'. Right next to it is a key pad.
'Well, I'm authorized' I think to myself.
I whip out my new ID and begin typing in the code on the back. It has gotten me into every other background, so this one shouldn't be any different. I frown when the little red light denies me. I try it again, and I get the same response.
"Oh just open already" I mutter to myself as I furiously type in the code again.
To my dismay, the key pad chirps a happy green and the door opens.
"Oh…kay" I say out loud.
Tentatively, I push the door all the way open and peer inside. The walls are a dull grey cement and there a few creepily placed lights throughout the place and there is one that is flickering nonstop. I walk through, closing the door behind me. This place practically looks like a basement.
"Hi?" I say, not really expecting a response. It's so quiet down here that it's making me nervous.
I continue forward, and soon, what looks like several doors appear. There are slits towards the bottom of the doors, but no windows. They are just big enough to slide through a tray, or a few books. There is a slight noise on the other side of one door, and again, curiosity gets the better of me. Ear pressed against the door, I can hear muttering behind one of the doors.
'An asylum?' I think to myself, 'Why didn't anyone tell me there was an asylum in the hospital?'
At that moment, there is a loud roar followed by a yip coming from a farther place down the building. Taking off in a dash, I run towards the noise, nearly falling when I turn a sharp corner. Soon, I locate the noise, and I feel my heart surge in my throat.
A large custodial worker that I have seen maybe two times since my arrival is holding his arm, face twisted in rage and pain. He isn't as big as Mr. Allen was, but he's still an intimidating size. Long, greasy brown hair is tied back in a loose ponytail, several strands loose and falling down his face. Following his gaze, I see a young woman, a patient I guess, judging from her white nightgown. Auburn hair in a disarray, she is scurrying away from the man on all fours, blood dripping from her mouth. She finds a corner and curls up, hands over her head for protection.
"You! Little! Bitch!" the custodian hollers at the girl. Fists clenching and unclenching, he moves towards the frightened girl whom I can see trembling from where I am standing.
"Hey!" I shout and stomp forward. A feeling of déjà vu' strikes me. "What are you doing?"
The custodian suddenly stomps, turning towards me with a shocked look. He blinks a few times before answering. "How did you get in here?"
"I work here" I say, putting myself between him and the woman in the corner. She hasn't moved from her spot yet. "Did you hit her?"
"She bit me!" the man exclaims, pointing at the woman behind me. Sure enough, there is an angry bite mark on his left arm.
"Why did she do that?" the scene is really becoming all to familiar and I can feel my body tense up.
"Didn't want to take her meds!" he snarled, showing ugly yellow teeth. He waves a fist at the girl behind me. "Ain't that right you little hussy!"
I turn to look at the shaking woman. I don't even need to see her torn gown to know he is lying. For a moment, I am so angry I see red.
"Good wins the right way" I mutter under my breath. I really want to hit this guy. However, a promise is a promise, and I take a deep breath.
"Gonna shove those pills so far down her throat-!" the man is muttering. I have heard enough.
"Riiiiggghhhttt" I drawl, spreading my feet apart as I cross my arms over my chest, "That's a new one"
"Excuse me" the man now approaches me, and I hear the woman in the corner gasp, "She bit me. No, she, she assaulted me. I was in my right to defend myself"
"Yeah, you and I both know that's not what happened down here" I can't help but chuckle as I gaze up at him.
"What are you implying?" the man, name badge reading Pete, pokes a finger in my face. I am not afraid.
"Tell me, what provoked you to attack a patient?" I am talking to him like a child right now. I give him a sympathetic wince. "Did your own hand reject you last night?"
Face growing red, Pete flies into a rage. He raises a hand to hit me.
"No!" I shout, startling even myself. Pete stops, fist in the air, staring down at me, blinking that stupid blink of his. I point a finger towards the hallway. "Leave!"
"Who the hell do you think you are-"
"I'm Ms. Black, and I am telling you right now to leave!"
For a moment, we lock eyes. Chewing on his bottom lip, Pete glares at me, but doesn't make a move towards me again. After what feels like hours, he turns and leaves. He gets a few yards before he turns around again.
"Ah! Get moving!" he then turns a corner and doesn't come back.
Taking a deep breath, I turn to the woman in the corner. Kneeling down next to her, I place a hand on her shoulder, and she whimpers.
"Not here to hurt you" I coax her, "He must've hit you hard. C'mon, let me have a look"
She pulls her arms off her head, and I am taken back by how pale and gaunt her face is. Still, her crystal blue bore right into mine, telling me she is much more lucid than I had imagined. Her lip is a mess. It'll probably need stitches.
"Let's get you to a nurse" I stand up and extend a hand towards her. I don't care if she's in a separated area; she needs to have her lip looked at.
I don't get a response from her, so I try and press forward. "My name is Jenna, and I'm new here. What's your name?"
"Belle" her voice comes out in nearly a croak. Obviously, she hasn't spoken in a while.
"Is that short for Isabelle?" I ask her. Again, no response of any kind. I hold out my hand towards her again.
She stares at my outstretched for a moment before placing her cold hand in mine. Carefully, I help her to her feet. She is so weak she can barely stand. She nearly topples over and her arms fly around my waist for support. One arm around her waist and the other holding her bony arm, we slowly walk out of the 'basement' and down the hallway to the nurses' office. There are a few voices coming from inside. The nurse on duty, a thick older woman comes out and her eyes nearly pop out of her head when she sees the woman with me.
"She needs medical attention" I say, snapping the woman out of her trance,
"Of course" the nurse says as she comes towards us, a look that can only be interpreted as fear growing on her face.
"What's going on?" an icy voice asks from inside the office. High heels clicking, I see the woman who had stared at Mary Margaret and I at Granny's Diner the other day. Belle's grip on my waist tightens.
The woman, I later found out she was Regina Mills, the town mayor, stares at me with oddest expression on her face. She takes a quick glance at Belle and her expression tightens.
"Hello there" she says, her voice sickeningly sweet, "You're the new girl in the town. I'm Regina Mills. The town's Mayor"
I pry Belle off my waist and prompt her take a seat in a nearby chair. "Yes ma'am, I'm Jenna"
She approaches me, her face very tight. "I understand you just recently landed the job as Correction's Deputy"
"Yes, ma'am" I say with a slight nod.
"Well congratulations" Mayor Mills says, her eyes never once leaving mine while she jabs a pointed finger at Belle, "Psychiatric patients are never to leave the ward. Since you're new, I'll let this slide this one time. For future reference, that door in the hallway says 'Authorized Personal Only' for a reason"
"She needed help" I say, surprised at how calm my voice is, "She was attacked by a custodian and I arrived right on time"
Mayor Mills take a step closer. "Are you implying that you assaulted a member of my staff?"
How the hell had the conversation taken this turn?
"No. I didn't touch him" my eyes never leave the Mayor's. Black eyes stare back into mine, but I refuse to back down.
"Good" Regina says with another sweet smile, "Enjoy your time here"
The room is as tense as it was the first night at Granny's when I first came here. The mayor soon leaves, her shoulder nearly slamming into mine. The minute she walks out of room, the air suddenly feels lighter. The older nurse is just staring at Belle, hands fluttering everywhere.
"Excuse me!" I snap at the woman, "Her lip needs attention"
The woman nearly jumps back. I roll my eyes towards the door. She thankfully takes the hint and nearly sprints out of the room, stammering about a First Aid Kit. I turn back to Belle, heart fluttering nervously when I find her staring at me with a peculiar look.
"C'mon, lets get this blood off of you" I kneel down before her.
Small tissue in hand, I go to wipe the blood. When I pull back my hand, I find it completely healed. Eyes growing wide, I freeze and Belle gives another gasp.
"M-must be Pete's b-blood from when y-you bit him!" I stammer out. She is staring at me still. She opens her mouth and for a moment, I think she'll say something.
"Found the kit here!" the nurse is back and Belle automatically shuts down again.
"Ms. Black, how are you today?" Sheriff Graham greets me as I walk into the office. I am dropping off some reports from the night before.
"I'm alright" I say, feeling my heart begin racing.
"So, you've been doing the job as Correction's Deputy for nearly two weeks now? How are you liking Storybrooke?"
"It's fine" I say politely. Actually, it's better than that. This last week, Ruby has dragged me out clothes shopping when my first paycheck arrived, and I have been meeting Mary Margaret almost every morning for coffee at the Diner.
"Good. Happy to hear that" Sheriff Graham is now at my side, "So, I couldn't help but overhear the other week that you had a custodian by the name of Pete leave a scene of what was reported to be an attack on a patient"
"I didn't hit him, and I don't care what anyone says" I all but hiss. I mentally dare the Mayor to try and throw that claim at me.
To my surprise, he is laughing. I look up at him in wonder. "What's so funny?"
"It's just that no one's ever been able to order him around before. He won't even listen to me. You, on the other hand, were able to handle him like an expert" he stops talking for a minute and is giving me a knowing look. "How about a job transfer?"
"Job transfer?"
"Yes. I need someone who's able to keep their cool in tense situations. I need someone who can make people listen to them. In plain terms, I need a deputy"