I'm honestly not super motivated with this one. I seem to have forgotten where I was originally going with it, and though I have an idea of where to take it I'm just not that excited about it. If anyone's super invested in this I may continue it if I have time, or if anyone's interested in the idea and would like to write it they should by all means run with it. I do hate to just give up though, so this author's note may become irrelevant if I find a burst of inspiration.
"What? No... Who's Daniel? Mayor Mills it's me, Emma. Remember? You hate me?"
Regina looked at Emma quizzically. "Hate? Hate is a strong word."
"Not compared to some of the things I'm sure you've wanted to call me, but that'll come back to you. Right now we need to get you to the hospital."
Regina glanced down to her mangled fist, then gazed up at Emma. "No, thank you," she said kindly. "My mother will fix it when she feels I've learned my lesson. I wouldn't want you to be in trouble for interfering."
Emma placed a hand on Regina's cheek and searched her face for the contemptuous mayor she'd so often verbally sparred and was perplexed to find her absent from the much less-guarded expression. She noted confusion and fear in the expression and felt the stirrings of empathy as she gently cupped Regina's hand in both of her own.
"Look, I don't know what the hell is up with you but you need to go to the hospital. I looks like you've been coughing up blood, and you obviously have some serious head trauma. If I have to carry you I will, but you're getting medical attention."
Regina seemed to ponder this for a moment before nodding in acquiescence. "If you insist. Though I believe assistance may be necessary."
Emma helped Regina to her feet and placed a hand on her hip as the brunette draped an arm over her shoulders. They had barely hobbled out the mausoleum door, however, when Regina doubled over coughing blood.
"Carrying it is, then."
Regina clutched Emma's neck as the deputy hooked her arm around the brunette's knees and lifted her in a bridal carry.
When Emma found her way to the mayor's car she gently lay Regina on the pavement and began to search her pockets for the keys. Regina was quiet as Emma extracted keys from her blazer pocket and turned on the car before gently loading her into the backseat. She reverently ran her fingers over the seat belt as Emma tried to strap her in securely but not too tightly.
Only after Emma had slid into the front seat and put the vehicle in reverse did she hear Regina's voice.
"Is this your carriage?"
"No, it's yours. That's why I found the key in your pocket."
"How strange. Where are the horses? Is it magic?"
"Horses? Magic? It's mechanics, combustion. What, are you flashing back to the nineteenth century?"
Regina didn't respond and simply watched the dashboard clock with curiosity.