Regina knew she shouldn't be driving to the hospital with her broken arm and collarbone, but she didn't want anyone to know she was going. She didn't have many options to call as it was – Tink, if she could handle another ride with her, or Emma.

She was glad Emma had told her that she had been found in the stable. It made an odd bit of sense to her. She had been dying and hallucinating, so the idea she would go to the stable – the place she felt closest to Daniel made sense.

Her mind had been on him more and more since she had that memory. She was more sure now that it was a memory. Her mother had made a deal with the Dark One to save her life, but in doing so gave away her destiny. Perhaps her destiny had been to marry Daniel, to live a normal, simple life. But this curse whatever its exact nature, maybe it took that away from her.

When she was with Daniel she had dreamed of being with him forever. Then fate put Snow White in her path and everything changed. But the idea of being with Daniel, loving him, raising a family with him, even if it were a simple, unremarkable life was a better alternative than the life she had lived.

The only bright spot in her life was Henry.

She had left Henry a note for when he got home letting him know she went to the hospital to speak to Dr. Whale. As much as she didn't want people knowing where she was going, she wasn't going to lie to her son – not anymore.

She was a street from the hospital when she looked in her rear view mirror and shook her head. A sheriff's cruiser was following her.

She wasn't being pulled over so she kept going, making it to the hospital and pulling into a spot. Emma pulled in beside her and got out of the car at the same time as Regina.

"Are you following me?"

"Yes," Emma said. "Please tell me you aren't here to get another MRI done."

"I am here because I am almost out of pain medication, medication that isn't even putting a dent in the pain and Dr. Whale told me to come in to talk to him about upping the dosage. Why are you here?"

"To make sure you weren't doing anything stupid."

"I appreciate your trust in me."

Emma shrugged, "I guess you won't mind if I accompany you to your doctor's appointment then."

"Miss Swan …"

"I think Henry would feel better knowing you weren't alone and either way I will need to stay here in order to follow you home again since you probably shouldn't be driving."

"If you must," Regina said walking to the door with Emma following behind her. Emma gave a little smile behind her back. She knew Regina would pull something like this the moment she was hesitant to promise she wouldn't. She knew Regina better than anyone else, of that she was sure.

Emma rushed ahead and pulled the door open to hold it for Regina.

"Thank you," Regina said to her.

…

Dr. Whale was not pleased when Emma walked in with Regina. It means he would have to forgo his plans. He asked a series of questions about her level of pain and then reviewed her current scripts. He left the room to get her something new to try from the pharmacy.

"Have you been taking a lot of those pain pills?" Emma asked.

"They haven't been doing much good."

"Why didn't you say something?"

"I just did. Did you miss the conversation with Dr. Whale?"

"No I meant you could have said something before to … to me, or you know Tink."

"Oh …um," Regina said. "I don't know. I just … you um said earlier that you care … I guess it's going to take a little time for me to get used to the idea that there might be people out there who care."

"Take all the time you need," Emma smiled.

When Whale returned the two women were casually talking.
"I'm sorry it took so long," he said. "The pharmacy is backed up, but I put an order in for you and I will have sent over my messenger as soon as it is filled. It's a higher dosage of Vicodin, which should be all you need for the pain. Make sure you read all the warnings on the slip that will come with it. It's not as powerful as an oxycodone but it will suffice. If you have any problems you call me."

"Of course. Thank you for seeing me on such short notice."

"It's no problem. I was wondering if I could speak to you a moment – privately, if you don't mind."

Regina looked at Emma and nodded. "I will be right outside," she said.

Emma was pacing outside the door waiting. While she knew it hadn't been that long she was becoming anxious and about ready to interrupt when Regina finally came out. They walked out to the cars. "What was that all about?" Emma asked.

"It was … he sort of asked me out."

"He did what?"

"He said it's not really appropriate right now since he is still treating me, but when I got better he wanted to know if I would like to have dinner with him."

"Well that isn't going to happen."

Regina stopped and looked at her, "why not?"

"You can't go out with him."

"Again, I ask why not?"

"Come on, he's Victor Frankenstein. He tries to reanimate dead people."

"That was who he was," Regina said. "He knows that there are people who still regard him in that fashion since you broke the curse. He's probably one of the few people in this town who can understand wanting people to see you differently."

"Is that what he said to you, that he sees you differently? Because maybe you are forgetting he tried to sick a mob on you when the curse broke."

"Which he apologized for," Regina said.

"You have got to be kidding me. You aren't going out with him."

"That isn't really your decision to make."

"Yeah, but … fine, date Frankenstein, see if I care," Emma said getting into her cruiser and leaving, not bothering to wait on Regina to follow her home. Regina just stood there trying to figure out why Emma reacted that way.

…

Whale knew he needed a new plan the moment Emma walked into his office with Regina. He did go to the pharmacy, but only to consult with pharmacist. He would have the Vicodin made up for Regina and include small amounts of the Skiver virus in each one. She would poison herself slowly and as he made friends with her, no one would suspect him of anything but being a concerned friend and doctor.

…

Emma stormed back into the station going into her office and closing the door. How dare she, she thought for the millionth time since leaving the hospital. How dare she even think of accepting Whale's offer? Those disliked each other. It was inconceivable that Regina would actually consider going out with him. And him, how dare he try to sell her some redemption story. He is lucky that she didn't go right back in there and deck him. She tried to calm down, but the audacity of him doing that. She was right there outside the door and he decides that is the moment to ask her Regina out.

She stopped. Her Regina. Where did that thought keep coming from?