Back to Storybrooke!

I Do Not Own Once Upon A Time.

That Mischievous Grin

Chapter Four

By LoveMeNever

Regina was shocked to say the least. Here Ches-Jaime was, in the hospital, sitting just a few more steps away. She has not seen her in twenty-eight years. Her legs moved her forward slowly. Their eyes were locked on each other.

Jaime's eyebrow quirked up in an arch as she watched the woman curiously.

A nurse checked her IV and monitor briefly walking in between the two women's stare down but neither broke eye contact.

It was the strangest thing to Jaime, she could not take her eyes off the Mayor. In all her years of living in Storybrooke she's never seen the Mayor in person, just in the newspaper or an ad about elections…. but never in person.

Jaime has always hated politics so she never even watched on the news when they would show the Mayor giving a message or any kind of town meeting or speech.

The nurse said something to her which caused her to break the stare-down between herself and the Mayor.

"What?" Jaime asked in a mixture of aggravation and annoyance. The nurse seemed a bit flustered at the tone.

"I-I was just saying that you're recovering remarkably well… it's actually quite amazing."

Really? 'Cause I still feel like death. Jaime wanted to say it but figured this girl was just trying to strike up a conversation. That and, the nurse looked young probably fresh out of school.

Instead Jaime just smiled, "Guess I'll be out of your hair soon then, yeah?" She meant it as a joke but the nurse took it seriously.

"O-Oh no! It's my job to take care of you until you are good as new, Ms. Foster."

Jaime frowned.

"Are you done now?" A stern female voice came from the doorway.

It was the Mayor. She was apparently listening to their conversation and was waiting on the nurse to leave.

As if scared for her life the nurse babbled on about having to check on other patients and made her way out of the room awkwardly. Jaime rolled her eyes.

Regina took a few steps in the room looking at the woman sitting in the bed up and down as if assessing the damage. Her lip tucked into a frown.

"Thanks for saving me there. The poor girl was just so uptight!" Jaime chuckled, her choice of words were probably not the best ones since she was talking to the most uptight person in town. Or so she's heard.

Jaime was a firm believer that everyone had a wild side.

"Well, you looked a little miserable. Though I'm not sure whether it was that nurse or your current situation."

Jaime looked away. "I doubt anyone could make my current situation seem like sunshine and butterflies."

If anyone could, it'd be you. Regina thought to herself with a smile that luckily Jaime missed. There was a time when Jaime could make light of any given situation. That was one very unique quality about her. One that she used to find incredibly annoying but she learned to like it.

Regina did not comment on the remark instead she acted like she hadn't heard it. "I was informed about your attack and it's my job as the Mayor to make sure nothing like this happens ever again, not in my town."

Jaime was taken back by the tone of the Mayor's voice. It sounded fierce and angry. Sure, Jaime could see why the Mayor wouldn't want people to get mugged in her town but there was something off about how angry she had been.

"Not to worry, Madam Mayor! I don't usually make a habit of being attacked or attacking anyone, for that matter. You will not get any resistance on my part."

Putting on her best business face the Mayor nodded, "I have the Sheriff working on this case, he will find whoever did this." Then Regina remembered the question she was dying to ask when she laid eyes on Jaime. "By the way, are you new in town? I don't think I've seen you around before."

"Ah, no, I don't come into town very often but I've lived here for as long as I can remember. I like to keep to myself." Jaime shifted awkwardly luckily it didn't hurt her injuries as much as she thought it would.

Jaime started battling with whether or not she truly liked to be alone. Once again it was like two people cramped into her head. Jaime said be alone and the other said more people, more fun.

That was the one who got into trouble all the time.

The Mayor saw the woman's eyes become dull and glazed over like she was in a deep thought trance. As much as Regina didn't want to admit it she suspected that Jaime was only like Cheshire in some ways... even though they were the same person deep down.

Cheshire was always looking for trouble, couldn't be serious if her life depended on it, charged into things recklessly, and loved being around people.

"The more people around the more likely I am to disappear. You'll see nothing but my grin." That's what she would say.

"I see..." Regina glanced at the clock on the wall, she really should get back to work to wait on Henry. He would be done with his therapy session with Archie soon. "I have an appointment to keep so... take care Ms. Foster."

A part of Jaime wanted the Mayor to stay, but she knew that was ridiculous. The Mayor came to ensure that she still had control over the town, even though she clearly didn't, it was nothing but a business trip. Jaime half suspected that the Mayor couldn't care less if the culprit was caught.

Maybe that was her reading into the situation all wrong though.

"Of course. Thank you for coming, I'm terribly sorry for my lack of hosting." Jaime chuckled, her famous grin shown on her face.

Regina swallowed hard, that grin was one she recognized all too well. She could have hugged this woman for just being alive but she kept her Mayor composure.

She nodded, smiled, and then walked out of the room briskly.

Once she was out of the hospital she went to the side of the building and leaned against the wall exhaling a shaky breath that she did not know she was holding.

Chess is here... but why did the curse affect her? She went back to Wonderland before I enacted it... it shouldn't have reached her there.

Regina closed her eyes taking a moment to get her head on straight before she went to get answers from the only person she knew had them, Mr. Gold.

Jaime felt alone the minute Regina left. The young nurse came to check on her a few moments after but Jaime didn't acknowledge the girl's presence at all. She just sat staring out the big windows in the room. The sun was setting giving the room a orange tint.

"Ms. Foster, are you alright?" The young nurse asked.

"Yes."

"It's just you seem troubled..."

Jaime finally turned her head to look at the nurse. Troubled?

"Well, I am in a hospital which is sort of troubling, don't ya think?" There wasn't any hostility in her voice, in fact, she was messing around with the nurse trying to lighten her up.

Once again the nurse took it the wrong way so Jaime gave up.

When the nurse left Dr. Whale walked into the room holding a chart that he was looking through. "Ms. Foster, how are you feeling?"

"I'm just peachy." Jaime smiled sarcastically but the doctor didn't even look up from the chart.

"You're healing quite quickly, I'd say by the end of this week you'll be able to start moving around more."

"Okay great, when can I actually leave?"

Dr. Whale looked up from his chart, "The first of next week." he then put down his chart and walked to Jaime's bedside. He pulled down the covers some. "Can you sit up?"

Jaime grimaced when she leaned forward. It didn't hurt as much now then it did yesterday but there was still a lot of discomfort.

Dr. Whale lifted up her plain hospital shirt just enough so that he could see the bruises on her. They were a sickening yellow, red, and purple. The bruise ran along the right side of her stretching from her shoulder all the way down to her hip.

It looked like she was hit by a large object on her right side.

There was other smaller bruises on her left side and on her stomach right above her hip and one more on the back of her neck.

He guessed that whatever happened she was hit on the back of her neck first, to knock her out or at least faze her, and then something or someone starting beating her while she was down. He admired her tone form for half a second before he pulled her shirt back down.

"Okay lean back please."

Jaime did what she was told but slowly so she wouldn't strain herself. "So will I live?" She smirked sarcastically at the doctor.

He chuckled, "I think so, Ms. Foster."

He shined a light in Jaime's purple eyes and told her to follow it. Dr. Whale was satisfied that everything was normal besides the numerous bruises.

"How's the pain?" He asked as he scribbled a report down in the chart.

"Still painful, but it's more bearable now."

"Tomorrow we're going to start letting you move around, try to stand, maybe walk if you're up to it." Dr. Whale closed the chart.

Jaime grinned, "I can finally start moving! I thought I was going to merge into this bed!"

It had only been a few days but Jaime felt like if she didn't do something that she would go crazy. Even if moving around tomorrow would hurt like hell she was so ready to get out of here.

"That optimism will help tomorrow."

"I try." Jaime shrugged.

Dr. Whale smiled, "I'll be back to check on you later, for now, get some rest."

Jaime nodded but she knew getting sleep wasn't going to happen. Not with so many thoughts running through her head.

Regina shut the door behind her as she walked into Mr. Gold's shop. He was behind the counter as he usually was with that smug expression.

"Did you know?!" She demanded.

Mr. Gold looked at her curiously his head cocked to the side. "Whatever do you mean?"

"Don't play games. Jaime, she's here and for some reason I had not known about it until now. That was your doing wasn't it?"

Regina stared intently at the imp, trying to read his face but was failing. She had no idea what he was thinking but she was damn sure that he had something to do with it. Who else would?

"Now now deary, I thought you supposedly knew everyone by name in Storybrooke." Gold smirked.

What she wouldn't give to smack that smirk off his face.

"If you will excuse me, it's getting late and I need to close my shop." He pointed to the door signalling her to leave.

"No! I want answers!" She firmly said not wanting to move an inch. She was determined to figure out what he knew.

He sighed looking down in contemplation then he walked around his counter facing Regina directly. "Listen, go home and get some rest. I'm sure you have many duties you need to be well rested for. Let me close my shop, please."

Normally, she wouldn't do a word he said but when he said 'please' Regina couldn't defy him. She glared remembering that she had to do whatever he said as long as he threw in a please. A deal she already regretted.

"Fine. We'll continue this discussion another time." She turned on her heel and marched out the door making sure it slammed behind her.

Still scowling Regina got into her car and started the engine. It took a couple of tries but eventually she heard the roaring of her car. Her dashboard clock read 7:12 p.m. Henry should be done with this therapy session with Dr. Hopper.

When she arrived Henry was sitting outside Dr. Hopper's building talking to the therapist, when they both heard the car they looked at Regina. She stopped her car in front of the pair. She smiled at Henry hoping he would return it but he didn't. It stung more than Regina would admit.

"Madame Mayor." Dr. Hopper waved and opened the passenger side for Henry to climb in. "You two have a pleasant rest of the day! Bye Henry, see you next week."

"Bye!" Henry buckled his seat belt and stared at the road in front of the car waiting for his mother to drive away.

He looked at her when he realized she wasn't moving the car, instead she was fixated on him. "What?" He asked.

"How was your session?"

"It was fine."

"And school?"

"Fine too."

Regina sighed at her attempt to start up a conversation like they used to have. He would tell her all about his day down to the smallest detail. Before Emma came to town.

Just thinking about Henry's birth mother made Regina's blood boil. Her hands gripped the steering wheel tightly while she drove home.

They both sat in the car in silence Henry was looking out the window looking bored and Regina was still strangling the wheel.

"Are you hungry?" She asked when she finally calmed down.

"No I ate something already." He had been with Emma after school and she took him to Granny's. Realizing his slip he tried to cover, "I mean, at school... lunch, I had a big one, so I'm not hungry."

Regina glanced at him skeptically before looking back at the road. She wasn't buying his story at all. "I packed you a sandwich and apple that's not a big lunch, Henry."

"I..." He began but Regina cut him off.

"Were you with Emma?! I thought I specifically told you to stay away from that woman. She's dangerous Henry, I'm only trying to protect you."

"You're the only dangerous one here..." Henry muttered under his breath.

Regina locked her jaw, she wasn't going to fight with Henry right now because she was starting to feel worn out, all they ever did now was fight. Instead, she was just going to ignore his back talk just for today.

They pulled to a stop in front of the house, turned off the car, and headed inside. Henry immediately stormed up the stairs ignoring Regina's warning to stop running. Regina put down her keys and purse on the little table with the mirror hanging over it in the hall. Her cell phone started to ring in her purse.

The caller I.D. read Sheriff Graham, she sighed remembering that they had an "appointment" tonight. "Sheriff."

"Madame Mayor, was I mistaken in thinking you were coming over tonight?" He sounded disappointed.

"No we're still on but I'll be a little late. I need to find someone to watch Henry while I'm gone." Regina sat on her couch in the living room holding a small book of contact numbers. "I'll call you when I'm on my way." Graham agreed and they both hung up.

She flipped through a couple pages of the book, she found the number of one of her old maids in the Enchanted Forest and asked her to watch Henry.

The maid agreed and arrived ten minutes later.

Regina walked up to Henry's room to tell him she was leaving. "Henry? I need to go to a meeting, Jessica is here to keep an eye on things, behave and I'll be back soon." Henry was sitting by the window with his back turned to Regina but he nodded.

"Bye then." Was all he said to Regina before she walked out of the room.

Regina went downstairs to get her car keys and coat then went outside to her car. She pulled her phone from her coat pocket and dialed Graham's number. He picked up after the first ring.

"I'll be there in a few minutes." Regina smirked and hung up the phone.

Graham's house wasn't very far from hers so she got there in no time. He lived in a two-story house which would be surprising if Regina had not pulled strings to get him there. Sheriff salary wasn't anything to fuse over, especially in Storybrooke where almost nothing happened until Emma.

Regina stepped out of her car when she pulled in his driveway. She walked gracefully to his front door but before she could knock Graham opened it and pulled her inside. She was about to question him before he crashed their lips together.

He led her into the living room without even breaking the kiss. Graham's shirt had been off upon her arrival. Regina kicked off her shoes. They hit the back of the couch and Graham broke the kiss long enough to walk around and seat her on the brown leather couch.

Graham kissed her while he unbuttoned her blouse.

She smirked and watched as he stood to unbuckled his belt. Oddly, when he looked down at her Regina's eyes didn't see him but another person.

In front of her was Cheshire, smiling and chuckling. Taunting her. Her body was clad only in her bra and short skirt. Even though Cheshire was smaller boned than Regina, she had incredible tone. Her arms had good definition to them, as did her legs, but what Regina loved the most was her stomach. It was flat but she had the faintest of abs, nothing to ripped, they were just perfect.

Regina saw Graham again, Cheshire's face and body now completely gone. She felt Graham hover over her. This felt wrong, Regina put her hand on Grahams chest stopping him from trying to kiss her.

"I-I need to go."

For the very first time Graham heard discomfort and hesitance in Regina's voice. He had always known the woman to be strong, bossy, and in control of her emotions. Right now, he saw emotions in her face he'd never even imagined the woman was capable of having.

He'd be lying if he said it didn't bother him. "What's wrong?" He asked.

Her eyes wondered the room for a minute before she grabbed her shoes that she kicked off upon kissing her way to the living room and buttoning up her blouse. "I'm sorry, I can't tonight." Graham tried to say something but the Mayor made a hasty exit.

He stared stunned at the spot where she had been standing seconds before.

Regina ran to her car and sped out of the driveway. A mix of emotions hit her like a truck while she drove. She has never had problems sleeping with Graham, there was no strings attached just a good time. They really weren't even that good of friends, to be honest.

Both of them knew it was just fun, nothing more. That's why Regina couldn't understand why she felt like she was doing something wrong. Seeing Cheshire instead of Graham completely turned Regina off from him.

This was not like her.

Regina pulled to a stop in front of her house she turned off the car but sat there for a moment. She needed to see Cheshire, to talk to her... but speaking to her wouldn't be like it used to now that she was Jaime.

Deciding it would be strange for the Mayor to arrive at the hospital at night asking to speak with a patient for no reason would not be Mayor-like. She'd just have to wait until Jaime got better and "accidentally" run into her.

Who knows how long that could take though.

Next chapter is another past Enchanted Forest chapter! You'll start to find out about Regina and Cheshire's history. ;)