A/N: Apologies for the long wait. Writer's block ... and a broken computer. Excuses aside, one more actual chapter loosely dubbed "The Rescue" ... then an epilogue will be the end of this story. I hope you're enjoying it (despite my lackluster ability to update!)

Graham didn't need further motivation, as he propelled himself from the truck, trying to ignore the throb in his shoulder as he moved forward. He knelt down in front of Henry, and carefully took one of his small shoulders in his hand.

"Henry, do you know where they took Emma?"

Henry swiped his hand against his nose, as tears fell from his eyes. He couldn't cry, he wasn't supposed to. He was brave and noble knight. Shaking his head, Henry spoke, "No. I escaped from Cora. She was holding me in the mausoleum. I don't think that they'd take Emma to the same place."

Graham nodded, he had to agree with Henry. If Cora knew that Henry had escaped, then she would know it would be the first place that they would look for Emma. It would also probably be covered in traps that could potentially hurt any of them. Graham sighed, as Henry tried to stand up straight and hide the tears that pressed against his lashes.

"Come here." Graham murmured softly.

He had always been the male figure in Henry's life. Always present, and always willing to help. This time was no different, except that he felt a certain amount of pain knowing that Henry was hurting. Graham felt like he too wanted to cry, just to show Henry that it was okay to do so.

Henry willfully launched himself into Graham's chest. In the back of his mind he thought about Graham's injury, and how his movements probably were hurting him, but he couldn't help the need to want to feel comforted.

"I'm sorry." Henry mumbled as the tears stained Graham's shirt.

"Nothing to be sorry about, Henry." Graham whispered back, as he patted Henry's back. "You shouldn't feel ashamed either. It is perfectly natural to cry. Sometimes it's the only thing left to do."

As he said the words, Graham could feel the familiar sadness bubble up into his chest. He, himself, had cried numerous times, but that was mainly over the fact that he had killed a helpless animal. Even if it was to keep himself alive. Graham tried to think of a time when he had cried over another person, when it sank in. The last time he cried over a human, was when he had watched Snow White try to willingly give her heart over to the Queen. To Regina. His eyes automatically moved toward Snow, and he couldn't help but be awed at her strength. Graham could see the breaks in her mask of calmness. A slight quiver in her hand and lip. The way her foot barely tapped against the concrete. Knowing that Regina had Emma, was killing Snow. He could tell it, even if she was trying to hide it.

"Where else would Regina go?" Graham asked the question, no one else seemed willing to ask.

James and Snow shrugged, as they tapped their chins. Neither of them seemed to have an answer to the question. He turned his attention to Ruby, as he waited for the small shake of her head. Graham sighed, as he too tried to rack his brain of an answer, when Henry suddenly shot out of his arms.

"I think I might know. I wasn't supposed to hear the conversation. It was right after Emma came to town, and Regina was talking to someone on the phone. She was whispering, like she was trying to keep it a secret. I didn't hear all the conversation, but I heard her say something about the psych ward in the hospital's basement."

The five adults nodded their head. It was definitely logical, and if they thought about it long enough, it was really the only place that they would be able to go without being found. The hospital's basement had been soundproofed for as long as any of them remembered.

"Let's head to the hospital then."

Emma's head jerked to the side as she came to. The last thing she remembered was coming around the side of the mausoleum to meet Regina … Her thought process ran off as a realization hit her. She had trusted Regina. The evil bitch had used Henry to make Emma trust her, and Emma had fallen for it … hook, line, and sinker. She sighed, as she realized that her hands were bound behind her back. At that moment, Emma really wished she had learned how to better control her magic. Which brought up the point that Regina didn't know she had magic, unless Cora realized it when Emma had taken, what she had thought to be, her heart.

"Ah, your awake." Regina spoke as a smirk played at the edge of her lips.

"Rot in hell, bitch." Emma spat, before drawing her knees up to her chest. "Where is my son?" Emma asked, her eyebrow arched.

Regina's face dropped at the mention of Henry, and Emma made the connection. "Oh, he escaped. Well, at least I don't have to worry about him."

"Of course not, Miss Swan. I will have my son back in no time. You and your idiot family will be long dead. He'll have no choice but to stay with me."

Emma snarled at Regina, before speaking. "You mean, he'll have no choice but to love you? Because there is no way that it's possible that someone as pure hearted as Henry could love someone as inherently evil as you."

Regina's face contorted in anger, as punched Emma's jaw. It was something that still took Emma by surprise. Whether she was the bitchy mayor of Storybrooke, or the evil witch of the Enchanted Forest, Emma had never thought Regina to be a brawler of sorts. Smacking? Yes. Punching though, that was more Emma's forte.

Even though it would give Regina pure satisfaction to know the punch had hurt her, Emma wanted nothing more than to rub at the aching flesh on her face.

"Punch me all you want, Regina. Kill me if you want to. Henry will still love me. You can't take me from his heart, and you know that. Is that what's killing you? Knowing that if he had to choose right now, that he would choose me over you? I mean, that has to hurt right?"

"Would you please gag that annoying woman? I can't stand listening to her go on and on anymore!"

Cora sauntered out from behind the dark corner. It reminded Emma of the first time she had met Cora. When they had both been prisoners in the dank cave back in the Enchanted Forest. Regina definitely deserved the title of head bitch, but Cora was definitely head creepy bitch.

Regina smirked at Emma, before kneeling in front of her. "My pleasure."

Graham ran toward the hospital's entrance, with the rest of Emma's family following close behind him. A nurse stopped him the moment his feet hit the tiled floor, with a brisk hand to his chest.

"Easy there. Where are you heading in such a hurry, Graham?"

Graham smiled, he remembered the nurse from his time in Storybrooke, and placed his hands on his cocked hips. "I need to get into the basement. There is a patient I need to see." It was hard for him to force the lie from his lips, but Emma's life was hanging in the balance and he didn't know who in the town was working with Regina.

"Sorry. Only authorized medical personnel are allowed in the psych ward."

Graham's mouth set into a thin line, his jaw hardening. "This is a matter of life and death, Maggie. Please." Graham pleaded.

Maggie sighed, "Alright, but only you."

Graham shook his head. He couldn't go down there alone, he knew that. He only had one good arm … there was no way he could adequately protect himself. "Seeing as I'm injured, Maggie … and this could be a particularly volatile situation, would you consider allowing either my brother or James to accompany me."

Maggie's head jerked up at that. She had barely even looked at the people that had accompanied Graham into the hospital. If she was being completely honest, she had always had a thing for the ex-sheriff. Upon staring down the remaining people, Maggie realized that James and Snow White were accompanying Graham. Along with Ruby, the waitress, Henry Mills, the mayor and the savior's son … and some very handsome man that she had never met.

"Yes. One of them may accompany you."

Graham peered at both, his brother, who seemed itchy to join him, and James, who seemed ready to strangle the first person he could.

"I cannot … nor will I, choose between the two of you. Nikolai, you wish to accompany to keep me safe. James, you wish to accompany to ensure Emma's safety." Graham paused, "Ruby, you are the only truly bias person among us. Sorry, Snow." Snow merely nodded her head. She wasn't about to be bias when it came to her baby girl. "Will you please choose who will accompany me into the basement?"

Ruby's face went slack. She hadn't wanted to be put in her current position. Sighing, she weighed the good and bad about each situation. If she chose Nikolai, she would be making him happy … that much she could tell. He looked ready for battle. His feet were set and his eyes continued to search the building with each passing second. Then again, if she chose him, there was a chance he might get hurt—or worse. However, if she chose James, he might do something he shouldn't in the heat of the moment, and get someone else hurt.

"Sorry, James." Ruby's face slid into a frown. She wasn't happy with her choice, but it was the only logical one she saw. "I chose Nikolai."

James turned his tense and taut body toward Ruby. His blue eyes, usually a light blue color, was hardened into a thick, darker blue. The anger boiling under his skin was notable in the redness in his face. His jaw was tight, and his lips where set in a thin line. His anger was beamed directly at Ruby. He made a move toward her, but Snow placed a calming hand on his shoulder.

"She's right, Charming. You know it, as do I."

James shook his head, "I know no such thing, Snow. What I know is that the evil queen and her mother is holding my daughter hostage. I know that I need to be there … to protect her."

Graham took a step forward. "I will be there, James. I will do everything I can to bring her back in one piece. I would gladly give my life to save Emma's. Besides, you know that Emma would rather have you here … protecting Henry."

James nodded, the words Graham had said settled in his mind and made perfect sense. "You're right. I'm sorry, Ruby."

Ruby just shrugged her shoulders. She had known Snow and James a long time. She knew just how hot-headed James could get. "It's okay."

James shook his head, "It is never okay to treat a friend like I just did, and I apologize."

Ruby merely smiled at him, as he allowed Snow to engulf him in her arms. Ruby turned her attention to Nikolai, the frown from before returning to her lips. "I hate this. I hate you going in there … risking your life. I know it has to be done. Emma is … one of my best friend's. I know that someone has to go, I do. I just wish it weren't you. I just … I care about you so much, Nikolai."

Nikolai smiled softly at her. "I care about you too, Ruby. Which is why I am so glad that you'll be here … that you'll be safe."

Ruby smiled back, before stepping closer to Nikolai and pressing her lips to his. It was a slow, soft, and tender kiss. It was unlike any other kiss she had ever remembered receiving in the past, and she didn't want it to end.

Slowly, reluctantly, Nikolai pulled back before resting his forehead against Ruby's, "I will come back to you, Ruby. I swear it."

She nodded softly, before pressing her lips to his cheek. "I'm going to hold you to that."

Graham stood awkwardly off to the side, before he felt someone tug on the sleeve of his leather jacket. Looking down, he saw Henry looking at him. Graham knelt down, and offered the boy a smile.

"Please be careful, Graham. My mom, she would be devastated if you got hurt again." Henry's foot ran back and forth against the tiled floor before he spoke again. "I would be too. You only just came back. It would suck if we lost you again."

Graham smiled softly, "I promise to be careful, Henry." He opened his arms widely for the young boy, who took the opportunity. After a moment, Graham pulled away. "I gotta go now. Be strong, for your mom and for me, Henry."

Henry nodded his head. "I promise."

Graham rubbed the top of Henry's head, before standing back up. He looked at his brother, "Ready?"

Nikolai nodded, "Let's go get Emma back."