Decided to continue the story, obviously. As always, constructive criticism is wonderful. Enjoy!
"My God, Emma, what happened?"
Mary Margaret rushed over to where Emma was slumped in a plastic chair in the waiting room.
"It's okay, I'm fine. Most of the blood isn't mine." Emma waved away her roommate's attentions.
"One of those 'should've seen the other guy' moments?" Ruby grinned.
Emma grimaced with guilt, then looked back up to Ruby quizzically.
Before Emma could voice her question Ruby inferred it. "M&M and I were having a movie marathon when she got the call that you were at the hospital. She was so beside herself I figured I should probably drive her."
Emma gave Mary an apologetic glance. "Sorry to worry you but really, I'm fine. It's... it's not me who's in trouble."
"Emma, your black eyes and the bandage on your ear would..."
Ruby interrupted Mary Margaret with a gesture. "Wait, Ems. Who is in trouble?"
Emma jerked her head towards the hallway. "Follow me."
"May we speak with her now?" A nod from the nurse was all Emma needed before stepping into the room with her friends trailing behind her.
"Oh Emma, you physically fought the mayor?" Mary Margaret's hand was over her mouth in surprise as she visibly blanched at the small figure in the hospital bed.
Ruby's gaze grazed over the cast on her hand, the bruising on her neck, the bloodstained clothes on the nightstand. "And kicked her ass, apparently."
Emma ran a hand through her hair. "Yeah," she said, remorse coloring her voice. "I... yeah."
Mary Margaret started when Regina's eyes fluttered open. To the teacher's surprise a smile formed on swollen lips. "Emma? You're still here? Who are your friends?"
Mary Margaret whispered "She doesn't recognize us?" to which Ruby added "And she called you Emma?"
Emma ignored them and stepped nearer Regina, gently placing a hand on her shoulder. "That's Ruby, in the red skirt. She's the waitress at the diner and a major flirt." Ruby was a little unsettled as Regina smiled at her pleasantly as if amused by the information. "And in the cardigan is Mary Margaret, my roommate. She's a teacher at the elementary school." Emma refrained from mentioning Henry. One thing at a time.
Regina smiled warmly and extended her hand. "Pleasure to meet you."
Ruby and Mary Margaret shook warily, watching Emma.
However, Emma only had eyes for Regina. "You okay?"
"I am well, thank you. I appreciate that you stayed and even brought visitors, that was very nice of you. Though I must admit I don't understand all of this." she gestured to her IV and monitor. "Is this more of your combustion magic?"
Emma smiled tightly but kindly. "Not exactly combustion but kinda, I guess."
Regina picked up a black controller and handed it to Emma. "The nurse gave this to me. She said it was a remote. I'm afraid I don't understand, what is it remote from?"
Emma's smile was one of amusement this time. "It's a remote control. It lets you control the television remotely, from across the room." She switched on the TV to reveal a preacher earnestly and silently gesticulating, then handed the remote back to Regina who began cautiously pushing buttons.
"Emma, may I speak with you for a moment?" Mary Margaret's expression was terse, her arms folded in from of her as she gazed pointedly at Emma.
"Hey Rubes, can you show Regina how to work the TV?"
"Sure thing," Ruby smiled, plopping herself down in the chair near Regina. "Maybe if she catches on quickly I can show her how to work the bed controls too."
Regina looked to Ruby, vaguely concerned. "Why would I require instruction to operate a bed?"
"Emma, what is going on here? That is not Mayor Mills. What happened?"
"We kind of... fought. We both threw some punches."
Mary Margaret's gaze was stern. "From the look of her neck you did more than punch."
Emma looked deeply ashamed. "I ah... I got carried away."
"That still doesn't explain this though." Mary Margaret gestured to the room where Regina was smiling as she made Timmy Turner's voice fluctuate in volume. "Not recognizing a television control I can almost see Mayor Mills doing. But I'm her son's teacher, why wouldn't she recognize me? And Ruby... The mayor used to take Henry to breakfast at Granny's before school once a moth or so, it doesn't make sense!"
"I don't know, okay? She didn't recognize me at first either when I went back to check on her, she called me Daniel..."
Something within Snow felt a twinge of recognition at the name, a hint of guilt, but she couldn't place why. She shrugged it off.
"So wait, you beat her up, left, and then went back to take her to the hospital?"
"Basically, yeah."
"So if you two are both here, where's Henry?"
"I called Graham to go keep an eye on him as soon as I got here."
Mary Margaret let a bit of her exasperation at her roommate shine through. "Great strategy, the sheriff can't arrest you for assault if he's babysitting."
Emma silently threw her hands up in the universal signal for "Whoa, there."
Mary Margaret seemed to spot something over Emma's shoulder, causing the blonde to spin around.
"Doctor Whale, hello. Maybe you could fill us in on what's happening here," Mary Margaret implored.
"Ms. Blanchard, I'm sorry but I can't just give out medical information. Doctor-patient confidentiality. Unless you have a kinship you've been hiding." His attempt at a joke fell flat as Mary Margaret remained impassive.
Deputy Swan stepped up. "Hey, her only next-of-kin is ten years old and she's obviously not her normal self. As sheriff's deputy and at a stretch some sort of kin through our son, I'm sure you can fill me in."
Whale seemed to ponder this for a moment before flipping open his file. "Looks like... three broken ribs, two fractured, a punctured lung we've surgically repaired, right hand broken in several places, contusions on the torso, neck, and head. Moderate head trauma, possible concussion, nothing that would explain the amnesia and delusions. I'm thinking it may be some sort of shock or PTSD, but you'll have to have Doctor Hopper evaluate her on that." He closed the chart and looked directly to the pair of women. "Physically, as long as she's careful and doesn't put too much strain on her ribs she should be well in a few months. The hand will probably require physical therapy to regain full functionality once she's out of the cast. Mentally though, I don't know. Like I said with David Nolan, amnesia can be tricky. The delusions though, the magic she keeps talking about? I don't know."
Mary Margaret could read the shame and regret on Emma's face as the blonde gazed over to where Regina was enthralled by PBS, Ruby trying to explain to her that the television was not a portal.