13. Changed
There was a saying about how doctors were the worst patients, and Victor proved that saying to be correct. He only went through the required hours awake after his concussion because Liza kept him company the whole time. Once that was done, Victor was back on his feet doing what he could to get the hospital back in order. His bruises from Cora's attack were still healing but if any of the nurses objected, he merely fixed them with a stare until they left him alone.
"You're lucky all you got were bruises," Liza had pointed out. Her fingers brushed across his bandages and he felt something wet touch his skin; she was crying. "What if it was worse? What if Cora-?"
"You put yourself in danger," he reminded her. "It could've just as easily been you wrapped in bandages. I hate the very idea of it, but I would never stop you from fighting. You have to do the same for me."
As he told Liza, this was his town and his people. Whatever evil Regina originally intended when casting the curse had twisted into a camaraderie. Victor knew that the memories were fake, but he still felt like he knew these people. He'd taken care of them and their children, had attended Miners' Day festivals with them, attended parties in their honor. After Emma arrived, the memories were real: delivering Ashley's daughter, helping David adjust post-coma, taking care of Katherine, fighting to save Henry's life... He cared about these people and he would do what he could to help, injuries be damned.
Besides, keeping himself busy helped him not dwell so much on what Liza was doing. He knew her to be a capable fighter, but every time he moved the wrong way his bruised body reminded him of the dangers she faced. The dangers they all faced going up against a powerful witch like Cora. Not something he ever expected to be so invested in, yet here he was.
It was strange: in another life, his father had conscripted him as a medic in the army. The battles may have been fought with fireballs and giants, but Victor was still on the ground tending to those injured in the crossfire.
He made his way outside for some fresh air when he spotted a familiar figure. "Regina?" The woman turned at his voice and acknowledged him with a nod before going back to what she was doing. Victor recognized what she was doing and his suspicions were confirmed when the spell took effect. "Protection spell. Thank you."
"It may not hold my mother off for long," she warned him with a shrug, "but it's honestly long overdue. I hear I have you to thank for everyone believing me about Doctor Hopper."
"And Ruby. We have some experience in people seeing us as monsters."
A smile touched the woman's lips. "Yes, I suppose you do. Still, I'm grateful."
"I owed you after everything that happened with Daniel." He swallowed before going on. He wasn't sure how she would react but as she just said, this was long overdue. "I could have revived him the first time you asked. Instead, I chose to help turn you into the evil queen. I may never get a chance to help my brother, but at least I did what I could to help one of my creations."
Regina studied him for a moment, her expression unreadable. Finally, she remarked, "You've changed, doctor."
"We all have, Regina." Comfortable silence fell between them. "I'm not going to lie and say I'm sorry for tricking you," Victor told her. "I'm not even that sorry I brought Daniel back. But I am sorry for what you had to do to him. I faced the same dilemma with my brother, and I couldn't go through with it."
"I think... it needed to happen," she answered slowly. "You and Jefferson both, in your mad ways, helped me finally let Daniel go. And you did live up to your claims of bringing him back, even if it took you thirty years." She gave him a look of dark amusement. "Think of me as one less creation on your conscience."
It wasn't exactly forgiveness, just as his wasn't exactly an apology, but it was the best and most honest thing they could give one another.