It was a seemingly normal night on the streets of Storybrooke. A cool breeze was blowing, and most of the town shops were closed for the day. She had just began the familiar short walk from her office to her car, when she heard a cry out for help. It was an unsettling sound, the cry a mix between a sob and a plea. She knew what it felt like being the one crying out for help, to cast aside pride and dignity so you may simply escape unscathed. There was only one difference, help never came for her. The panic swelling in her chest had her racing towards the sound, disregarding her poor footwear, and the fact that she was heading into an unknown situation. Her stomach dropped with dread the moment she found who it was that had been calling out for help.

The savior needing saving. It was an unlikely scenario but it was suddenly a reality.

"Get... the fuck... off me..." Emma gasped. The blonde was pinned down, by a burly man she didn't recognize. Her voice lacked any real strength and Regina knew it was a battle she had been fighting for a while, one she was losing. Her torso twisted and her hips jerked but the man's grip on her wrists proved too strong. Her shirt was ripped off, cast aside like a discarded piece of trash, and her jeans were pulled halfway down her hips. Regina felt disgust towards this man's advance, but most of all rage. A boiling resentment that seemed to consumer her entire body like a flame. How dare he touch her like that.

A wave of her hand sent the man flying Into a nearby brick wall. He howled in pain but she immediately thought to knock him out with another wave. No more of that.

Emma shuddered in relief but no amount of strength could help her take back her pride. She was supposed to be strong. She was the sheriff yet she couldn't fight him off.

Regina went to her side, and offered her the coat of her back.

"Thank you..."Emma breathed, as she wrapped the fabric tight around her. "If you hadn't...he would have..."

"Shhh I know." She kneeled beside her now, uncaring of the dirt meeting her slacks if it meant easing away Emma's distress. They weren't exactly friends but she had somehow come to care about her and seeing her so...frightened really pulled at her heartstrings.

"Emma are you hurt?"

The blonde shook her head but sometimes Injuries weren't physical.

"Let's get you up." She said. Emma cast the man lying on the floor an anxious glance. "He won't be moving anytime soon. At least for a couple of hours don't worry." She watched Emma's shoulders slump in relief, then something she never thought she'd see happened. Emma started crying. Full, heart wrenching sobs, that with each wrack off her shoulders her own heart ached just a little more.

"Emma. You're safe now."

"I-I know...Regina thank you. Thank you so much." The blondes breath came in small bursts, as if she had to remind herself every so often to breath.

She didn't know what to do how to deal with this type of Emma. She was so broken, so shaken.

"Emma. I'm sorry..." She didn't know why she was apologizing. It's not like it had been her fault but any other words seemed wrong. She shuffled closer to her on the sidewalk. That small shift towards her was enough of an invitation for Emma to grab onto her. Strong arms wrapped around her, holding onto her like she would be swept away if she didn't. The amount of need behind the embrace was just as surprising as the act itself but she returned it, knowing the feeling. It was a secret she kept buried but at a different time it had been her in Emma's place. She swallowed the bitter taste in her mouth and let Emma recover.

"You're okay." She whispered. The blonde was trembling, caught up in a storm of emotions. Her words didn't help, or seem to even reach her ears. "Emma. I'm going to take you to my car. We can't stay here its cold and you're shivering." The blonde nodded and released her grip. That's when they both became aware of her state of undress. Emma's jeans were still halfway off her body, but Emma didn't have the strength to pull them up. Had she truly been fighting him off for that long?

"Let me..." She gripped the jeans waistband and gave it a firm pull. They were a tight fit, no wonder she couldn't get them up. Luckily for her the man struggled just as much taking them off her.

The moment they rested above her hips, Emma once again gave her thanks.

"Of course. Emma. " She didn't need to thank her for this though. Any decent being would do the same, even an evil queen.

"Do you think you can walk?" If she couldn't pull up her jeans she doubted she had the energy to do that.

"Maybe." Emma took her hand and she pulled her to her feet. She swayed for a second but held up. Just in case she kept an arm behind her.

She left Emma alone in the car to call Graham. This was something she knew Emma would likely have a hard time discussing with her parents and made it a point to keep it from David. At least, until Emma was ready to discuss it with them. For now this was an issue she best trusted with Graham.

He arrived on scene not long after, handcuffing the unconscious man before calling in a medic. Her insides seethed with disdain knowing they had a legal obligation to check over the man. He'd stay there out cold on the ground all night if she had her way.

"Thank you for being so quick...I know it's your night off but this is something I thought would be best kept from Officer Nolan, at least for now."

"And why is that Madam Mayor?"

"The woman he attacked was his daughter."

Graham's eyes widened just a fraction, she had left out Emma's name in her call so this would be treated like any other case but it was clear every one of them had some sort of emotional connection to the blonde.

"Emma? Is she okay should-"

"Yes, she's a little shaken but otherwise unharmed. She's sitting in my car at the moment if you would like to speak with her about what happened..."

He nodded and headed over to her passenger side door.

She stepped away as the two talked, sending Emma a reassuring look as Graham wrote down the details and charges. In the meantime she watched over the man on the ground. A little extra justice wouldn't hurt. She moved her hand at her waist, keeping the movement subtle and inconspicuous. Upon waking the man would have an unpleasant rash to deal with...She smirked to herself as she stepped back. Just in time too, the medics were here.

Graham wrapped up his conversation with Emma and stopped her just as she was heading back to check in on the blonde.

"She doesn't want anyone else to know she was the one he attacked. You have my word that I will keep her identity protected...and thank you for stopping him Regina. This could have been a very different call tonight."

She nodded unsure of what to say. She wasn't unaccustomed to being praised as the hero but it wasn't quite the feeling she imagined it to be.

"Make sure she's alright won't you? I'll take care of him."

"I will. Good night Officer..."

Emma was quiet when she entered the driver's seat. She buckled up and turned to the blonde.

"I'm going to take you to my house Emma, if that's okay with you...I don't think you should be alone tonight."

Emma didn't object to her suggestion and followed her act of fastening her seat belt. She took that as a yes and turned the key. Time would only tell how quickly Emma would heal from this... and if only it were that simple...