1808 words, this chapter
Chapter Four, Dark Heart
Emma was seething as she drove. She could barely see straight. She wasn't used to this. Normally she could reign in her emotions. This was new. She didn't like it and she was finding it harder to fight the dark feelings.
"I'll be fine," she said. "I just need to get to the office." She groaned. "David will be there. I need coffee."
She drove to Granny's, praying today would go smoother. She didn't want to be in that place with stupid people any longer than necessary.
No such luck. There were people ahead of her and Ruby was smiling stupidly and chatting with each one. Emma tapped her foot. She rolled her eyes. "Can you go any slower, Ruby?" she cried out.
Ruby looked at her, surprise on her face. "Sorry, Emma. I'll be there as soon as I can."
"Before we die of old age?"
Ruby stared then scoffed. "Someone's cranky."
"And getting crankier."
"I'll get to you, Emma, keep your pants on."
"Maybe the line would go faster if you were more professional."
"Excuse me?" asked the brunette.
"You heard me fine," Emma snapped, glaring at Ruby. "Plus, it's Sheriff."
Ruby's eyes grew. "Yeah. I know who are."
"Then you should address me by my title."
"Seriously?" asked Ruby, scoffing at the patrons. They chuckled.
Emma glared at them all. "I think you people are too informal."
"Since when?"
"Since now."
"Jeez, fine, Sheriff," she said, putting an exaggerated tone to the last word. "If you're so important, maybe you should move to the head of the line?"
Emma smiled. "I should."
Red watched in disbelief as Emma rudely pushed the customers out of the way. "Pipe down, pipsqueak."
"Who are you talking to Sister?" sneered Leroy.
"Watch it Leroy. It's Sheriff, now," advised Ruby.
"That's right. I deserve respect."
"You deserve a cup of coffee in your face!" yelled Red.
"What's all this then?"
Emma groaned at the sound of his voice. "Are kidding me?" she asked, whirling around to see a dumbfounded Killian staring at her. "Are you stalking me?"
"I was simply passing by when I heard the shouting."
"Right."
"Emma, clearly you are not well. Listen to me, Love, I care about you."
She screamed with frustration. "We just had this out! I don't want to see you again!"
"Jeez, so that's why you're snapping at us all," said Red. "You had a lover's spat."
"Please," snickered Emma. "We were not lovers."
Killian looked confused. "Emma..."
"What did he do to you?" asked Leroy.
Emma rolled her eyes. "Stay out of this Dwarf. I can take care of myself."
"Emma, please," begged Killian.
Emma threw the money on the counter and grabbed the pot, brushing Ruby's hand with hers as she did. She felt a tingle at the action and a fleeting, mild sense of guilt and regret. Then she smiled evilly at the waitress. Emma filled her cup herself and set the pot down so hard Ruby thought it might break.
"Out of my way!" she screamed, pushing several dwarves out of the way, including Leroy.
"Watch it!" he cried. "You smacked me in the nose!"
"Can I help it if your nose got in my fist's way?" she sneered.
"Hey!" cried Doc. Unfortunately his nose was also in the line of fire.
Emma laughed rudely, backing up and into yet another dwarf. Happy's bare arm got a hard smack.
"You're too rough this morning!" cried Happy.
Emma sneered. "Babies. Keep out of my way!"
"Swan, why are acting in this manner?"
"Shut up, pirate!"
"What the hell is your problem, Emma?" asked Ruby, staring incredibly at the Sheriff.
"I'm sick of you, all of you!" Emma yelled, then stormed out.
"What in the hell?"
"I do not know, Ruby," said Killian.
"You must have done something," said Leroy.
"I cannot fathom what," said Killian. "I just spoke to her father. She has continued in this manner, to him and her mother. She was quite hostile to Mary-Margaret on the phoning device."
"You're joking," said Ruby.
"No. I fear there is something seriously wrong with the savior," said Killian gravely.
Emma marched out of the diner, then heard someone call her name. She turned to let whoever it was have it. Suddenly she felt a lull in her darkness. It actually felt like a breeze in her soul. "Oh, hi, Sister Meg."
The nun smiled. "I'm so sorry. I, uh, was in the diner just now."
Emma groaned "You heard and saw, huh? I don't know what's come over me. I just...I can't seem to stand anyone any more."
"Oh, well, I'll just go then."
Emma reached out and grabbed her hand. It felt comforting, the nun's touch. "No, don't. Actually, you're not bothering me, not at all. You're the only one who isn't."
"I'm glad. I'm sorry you're having a bad time."
Emma sighed. "I don't understand. I...don't hate Ruby, or Leroy, certainly not my parents or...my son, and then there's Killian. Until yesterday I was fairly sure I was falling..." She sighed. "I think something is wrong with me."
"I'm sure you're fine, Emma." She smiled and took her hand. "You've been under an incredible strain. The wicked witch wasn't that long ago, and before that was the missing year." She laughed. "Before that was the horrible time in that wretched place of Pan! You do not live what I would call a soothing life, Emma Swan."
Emma laughed. "Yeah."
"You're just tired."
"I don't know. I've never felt this kind of..."
"Hate?"
Emma nodded. "It's alarming."
Meg walked close and took her hand. "I'm sure you're fine, just give yourself some time. You'll be back to feeling like your old self soon. Besides, perhaps you're simply...frustrated with the people in your life. It happens you know. Perhaps you're being too hard on yourself. It may not be you."
Killian walked out then and looked with concern at Emma. She instinctively turned away. He sighed and walked out of her sight.
She sighed. "I don't know, Sister Meg. I think it is me. I'm scared that my feelings for them are changing," she confessed.
"You know, change is good."
"Not this much, this fast."
"You and I should talk, at length. I have some experience in counseling. Perhaps we could meet in private...away from the people causing you stress."
"I could use someone that I don't...hate." She chuckled weakly, but felt like crying.
"I'm afraid it is very crowded at the convent."
"You could come to my place," said Emma.
"Oh, that sounds lovely. Thank you for inviting me to your home."
"No problem. I need someone to talk to."
"Of course," said Meg, smiling.
"Can I call you?"
"Please," said the sister, handing her information to Emma. "Anytime, Emma, I'll be there for you."
Emma smiled. "You may be my only friend right now."
Meg beamed. "I think this is the start of a wonderful relationship, Emma."
Emma chuckled weakly. "Unless I hate you tomorrow too."
Meg cocked her head and gave a slight smile. "Somehow, I don't see that happening." She moved toward her and straightened Emma's collar, brushing along her neck. She then rubbed Emma's cheek. "Everything will be OK."
Emma smiled. "Thanks. I should go. I'm still the sheriff of this town."
Meg nodded and watched the sheriff drive away.
Emma felt a strange burning sensation where Meg had touched her. She looked down and saw her skin actually turn dark. She shook her head. Great, now she was hallucinating.
"Maybe I'm sick," she thought. "I could have a bug. Yeah, that would account for my grumpiness," she said aloud.
She thought then of Killian again and the anger pulled deeper inside her. "It wouldn't explain why I suddenly want Killian gone, though."
She then remembered the vicious words to Mary-Margaret. "Or why I said those hurtful things to my mother." She sighed. She almost felt guilty for it. Almost, but not quite.
Emma finally showed up for work. David stared at her as she walked in. She mumbled a vague greeting and went to her desk.
"Emma?"
"David, please, can we just work?"
"No. You upset your mother last night."
Emma sighed. "I know."
"And what is going on with you and Hook?"
"Nothing."
David stared at her.
His look of concern stamped away any feelings of guilt. She felt her eyes flash and a mean smile spread over her face. "Fine. It's over...whatever it was I had with that...pirate. It's done and...he's not happy."
Her father looked unsure. "Just like that, you're done?"
"Yes."
"Emma, you guys were really close."
"I don't want to talk about it," she said, grabbing a file.
"What about your mother?"
She growled.
"Emma, we're just concerned. You never talk to her like that."
"I know."
"Just...call her and...say you're sorry."
Emma threw down the file. "Me? How about she apologizes?"
"For what?"
"For...always being on my case! For calling me constantly. She's always in my business."
"Emma, that's not fair. She's your mother."
"That doesn't give her the right to meddle."
"Meddle? Emma, she does not. If anything, she's patient and...careful. You know she'd never interfere. Sure, she gives her opinion..."
"Boy, does she!"
"Emma, stop."
She jumped up. "Why should I? I'm so sick of this town, of these people who have nothing better to do but stick their noses into Emma Swan's life! I'm not a person! I'm the savior! Everyone thinks that means they own me!"
David stared at her, his eyes wide with shock. He managed though to stay calm. "That's not true."
"It is true. Look at you. You're questioning me about Killian. It's none of your business."
"You're acting strange, Emma."
She scoffed. "You're just like the pirate. You're not the problem. I am. I'm acting weird. Right." She grabbed her coat and walked to the door. "Maybe it's not me, it's all of you."
"Emma, where are you going?"
"To get some peace." She opened the door, but her cell buzzed in her pocket. "Shit." She answered, not politely. "Great. Those stupid dwarves are fighting."
"They are? Since when do they fight?"
"God I hate this place," she said. "Now I've got to go break them up."
"I'll come with you."
"No! I don't need you! Stay here, David!" She stomped out.
End of Chapter Four