Trigger Warning - aftermath of abuse and rape/ mentions of miscarriage/ rape kit and exam being conducted

Chapter 25 The Beginning to the End

Regina was breathing so hard, her hand was clutched at her side, and Emma could see with each ragged breath that she took, she was in extreme pain. She couldn't even move to get out of the bug when they had finally arrived at the hospital. Graham had to run ahead to get some help after Emma had managed to coax her out and she nearly collapsed from the pain. He rushed back with a doctor, a middle aged woman with blonde hair and hazel eyes and hospital ID badge that read Dr. Roe. With Emma's help, they got Regina onto the gurney they had wheeled out, being careful with her injuries and then rushing her into the trauma bay. A team of nurses got an oxygen mask on her face and connected her to different monitors. Regina seemed to have fallen into some kind of shock. Her eyes had glazed over as they worked on recording her vitals and assessing her wounds. Emma's eyes averted as they cut off her blouse, revealing the extent of the injuries on her ribs and abdomen. They were so bruised and swollen and she could see the ridged lines of broken bones.

"We need to get an x-ray, and then get a CT and MRI," Dr. Roe listed, using her penlight to look into Regina's black eye for a moment. "Swollen and bruised right hand, severely bruised and possibly broken ribs, mild concussion, and periorbital hematoma of the right eye."

Emma could only watch in shock as she listed her injuries. They started to move her and Regina started to panic. She tore the mask from her face and Emma immediately snapped out of her shock and was by her side in an instant. She took her injured shaking hand, being careful not to press on the bruises.

"You're ok," she reassured her, her voice nearly breaking into a sob. "He's not going to hurt you anymore. You're safe now. I'll come see you when all the testing is done, ok?" She slipped the mask back on when those words seemed to calm her. Regina nodded and Emma wiped the tears that started to streamed down her pale cheeks. "You're safe, I promise," she whispered again and with a heavy heart, she allowed them to wheel her gurney away.

Dr. Roe didn't follow them, and instead faced Emma, and Graham who was silently hanging out in the back with guilt ridden eyes.

"Isn't she the mayor's wife?" she asked. "What happened?"

"We need to discuss this privately," Emma said, taking the lead despite being deputy. Graham was too racked up in his shame and guilt to even step up as sheriff. She looked at her boss with disgust in her eyes. She lost all respect for him. "I'm going to stay here, while you go get an arrest warrant for that bastard," she ordered, leaving no room for argument. He only nodded and rushed off. Dr. Roe looked at her with a confused frown.

"What is going on, deputy?"

"Do you have somewhere private where we could talk?"

The doctor nodded and led Emma to an empty break room. She shut the door, so that no one could walk in and then faced the questioning gaze of the woman before her.

"This is probably going to sound crazy, but it's true. The mayor is responsible for it."

"What?"

"He has been abusing Regina for years and the sheriff has been covering it up. He was the one to break her ribs and give her that black eye."

The doctor could only look at her in shock, and then anger flared in those hazel orbs. Emma could understand the shock and anger because the mayor made everyone believe he was this kind man who doted on his wife and kid.

"Ok," she took a deep breath. "Once the scans and x-rays are done, we'll document every scar and bruise. We'll even need to conduct a rape kit."

"Rape kit?" Emma's heart plummeted into her stomach. She never once thought that Leopold could be raping her as well. Beating her, abusing her mentally and physically was one thing, but rape? She never would have thought he was sexually abusing her as well. Or maybe she just never let her thoughts go there. Did Graham know about this as well? How much wasn't he telling her.

"Marital rape usually comes with domestic violence," Dr. Roe explained solemnly. "I'm not saying that's the case here, but it's possible."

Emma was having a hard time accepting that possibility. She was desperately trying to contain her panic, her breaths coming out harsh and her entire body trembling. She tried to think of any instances where Regina might have been showing signs of sexual abuse, but she couldn't think of any. Then again, the woman hid her pain so well it was hard to tell.

Dr. Roe placed her hand on her shoulder, clearly seeing Emma nearly falling into a panic attack. She pulled herself together. Regina didn't need her falling apart right now.

"Alert security about not letting the mayor on the grounds, and then wait for me to come get you. Once her scans are done we'll start documenting."

Emma did as she was told and alerted security in case Leopold got word that his wife was here and came looking for her. She then waited in the lobby, pacing and worrying about Regina. She couldn't help but think about the implications of rape that Dr. Roe had brought up. She finally sunk down into a chair and buried her face into her hands. How could she have missed this?

"Deputy Swan?" A nurse came out after what seemed like hours. "I was sent to bring you to Ms. Mills' room. She is done with her testing." Relieved that she could finally see her, Emma got up and followed the nurse down the hall and into a room.

Regina was curled up in the bed, attached to wires and an IV with an oxygen mask on her face. She opened her eyes as Emma came and took a seat beside her and gently combed her hair behind her ear. Her eyes were a bit glazed over.

"Hey, are you ok," she whispered in concern, and Regina gave a slight nod of her head.

"We gave her something for the pain," the nurse explained, adjusting the IV bag for a moment. "Dr. Roe will be right in with her scans." Emma nodded her thanks as she left them alone. She reached out, taking Regina's wrapped hand. The meds seemed to be taking the edge off, because she no longer saw pain in her eyes, just relief. Her chest rose and fell without difficulty, her breathing finally steady.

Regina closed her eyes again, dozing off while they waited for Dr. Roe. She seemed to be in and out of consciousness, and Emma wondered if that was from the concussion or the pain meds or maybe both.

It wasn't long till Dr. Roe came in with the results from the scans. She handed Emma a file of paperwork explaining it was her copy of the reports to use for evidence. Regina was still asleep and started to stir at the sound of their voices.

"Regina," Dr. Roe coaxed her awake.

"She's been in and out of consciousness," Emma informed her worriedly, setting the file on a nearby table. Dr. Roe once again examined her eyes, pulling out her pen light and having her look in different directions.

"She's just drowsy from the meds," she explained, grabbing the bed remote and elevating the bed a bit so she could comfortably sit up for the exam. "Now, as for the results. She has two fractured ribs which is where the worst of the swelling is and why she has difficulty breathing. We'll keep her on oxygen and pain meds to help make it easier for her. She has a mild concussion possibly from being punched in the eye. She has an orbital eye fracture along the rim of her socket right underneath her eyebrow, and also what we call a blowout fracture from the impact on the socket wall behind the eye. It's not as severe so it should heal on its own. She will possibly need to get checked by an eye specialist later on. She's going to be ok, she just needs to heal."

Emma took a breath of relief. Worse case scenario was surgery and she'd hate for Regina to have to go through that.

"Regina?" Dr. Roe became very serious, looking into her patients eyes for her complete attention. "Emma informed me that your husband was the one who did this to you. Because it's a domestic abuse case, I have to examine you. I might even have to perform a rape kit if necessary. Do I have your consent?"

She didn't answer, she just looked at her, her face becoming more and more emotionless through the mask. Her gaze darkened and Emma was the one to take her hand, and coaxed her to look at her. Anything to get her out of whatever dark headspace she was falling into.

"Regina," Emma said softly, trying to get her to respond. Regina blinked, her eyes suddenly becoming fearful. She shook her head in defeat and slid the mask off.

"A rape kit?" she asked, her voice hoarse with exhaustion. Emma gave her pained smile, looking at her with her heart breaking in her chest. When she had first met her, she would have never thought they would ever find themselves in this moment, Regina lying in a hospital bed with Emma by her side and discussing consent over a rape kit.

Dr. Roe gave a solemn nod, reaching out and squeezing her other hand in comfort. Regina seemed to lean into the touch just like she did with Emma's. It wasn't lost on her that there were times she seemed to crave comfort.

"Regina… did he…" She couldn't even ask her, and she struggled to even get the words out. Dr. Roe was quick to save her, probably more adept at this than Emma ever could be.

"Was there non-consensual intercourse?" the older woman asked. Regina averted her gaze and was pulling her hands back and burying them in her lap. She was trembling as if she were freezing. Her eyes welled up with tears, and she let out a sob underneath the mask, muffling her pained cries. That was all the answer the two women needed as her body racked with silent sobs.

"Deep breaths, honey," the doctor soothed her, rubbing a comforting hand up and down her shoulder. "I'm going to do everything I can to help you. Emma is going to do everything she can to make sure you never go back to him, but that means we have to do the exam. I know it's hard. I know you don't want to be touched in places, but I promise you, you are safe. Emma could even stay if you need her to."

Regina nodded her consent, her tears still falling silently down her cheeks. Dr. Roe squeezed her shoulder in comfort and then exited the room to prepare for the exam. When the door had closed, leaving the two of them alone, Regina curled up on her side, burying her face into her pillow as if she were afraid of facing Emma. This wasn't the same fiery woman who made her life hell in the beginning. She couldn't believe how much Leopold had emotionally broken her. She carefully removed the mask off her face and smoothed back her hair from her tear stained cheeks.

"Can you look at me?" Emma whispered and then smiled ruefully through her own tears when Regina finally met her gaze. "Why didn't you tell me?" her voice shook as she tried to keep it together.

"I was ashamed," Regina whispered.

"It's not your fault. He's the one who should be ashamed for putting his hands on you."

"You're not leaving are you?" she asked, sounding as if she were afraid to be alone while the exam and rape kit were being done. Emma was surprised. She would have thought that maybe Regina didn't want her in the room during such a vulnerable moment.

"Of course not. I can stay here or I could wait right outside the door. What do you want me to do?" she asked, completely giving her a choice in this.

"Stay," she whispered, warming Emma's heart. She smiled softly at her just as there was a knock on the door and Dr. Roe and a nurse entered the room with a tray of supplies. The nurse wheeled the metal tray towards the bed and Regina immediately sat up, as if trying to create as much distance as she could. She was shaking again, her breathing was becoming labored without the mask, and her eyes were flickering with raw fear.

Emma took her shaking hands, getting up from the chair and standing beside her.

"Hey, look at me," she gently sought her attention. "I'll be with you the whole time. You're safe, Regina. No one is going to hurt you." She picked up the oxygen mask and placed it on her face for a moment. She wanted her to get a couple of deep breaths before they started. Once Dr. Roe and Nurse Dana were ready, she gently took the mask from her face, and with the doctor's instruction, helped her to sit on the edge of the bed. The tray was wheeled closer to her. Dr. Roe, dressed in a sterile gown and gloves, approached her.

"I'm going to start with the exam first. If it gets too much, let me know and I'll stop. Take as many breaks as you need. I'm going to start off by removing your gown, is that ok?"

Regina nodded, and Emma's eyes fixated on her face, because seeing her naked and only in panties wasn't something she wanted. Regina was beautiful and attractive, and Emma had eventually admitted to herself that she had a crush on her friend, but nothing could ever happen between them, not after everything she's been through. And besides, this isn't the way she wanted to see her for the first time if anything ever did happen between them.

It wasn't her breasts that had caught her attention, no… It was the dark bruises all along her belly and ribs blended in with older fading ones on her skin. Nurse Dana took pictures of her face, arms, belly and ribs. Dr. Roe was very gentle in examining every inch of skin and allowing the nurse to document every bruise and scar they had found.

She even held her tongue, not wanting to scare Regina when the older woman was closely examining some bruising along her inner thighs; Finger shaped bruising that made Emma clench her fists in suppressed rage. They looked as if they were recent and it made her sick knowing just how many times he was raping or assaulting Regina while she was blissfully unaware.

Soon, Dr. Roe was coaxing Regina up on her feet with Emma's help. Emma held her hands and whispered words of encouragement as the doctor examined her back with a furrowed brow. Emma tilted her head in concern as she spent more time ghosting her fingers over her skin. Dana took more pictures than she did of her front side which caused Emma to believe something was wrong.

"What is it?" she asked. Dr. Roe looked at her with an apprehensive expression as if she were afraid to even tell her.

"Come see," she nodded. Emma looked at Regina as if looking for an answer, but the woman had averted her eyes to the floor. She wasn't looking at anyone. Emma let go of her hands and came around to see what Dr. Roe had found. Regina covered her breasts with her arms, displaying the scars on her back even further.

Emma's face hardened, and she had to force herself from bursting from the room so she could kill the son of a bitch with her bare hands. She saw nothing but red as she took in the gruesome sight before her. Regina's back was full of scars as if Leopold had taken a belt to her back more than once.

She clenched her fist again, trying to control the rage burning in her belly.

"Regina, what did he…" Emma's voice choked.

"Don't…" the brunette finally spoke. Her voice was hoarse as if she didn't even have the strength to explain what he had done to her. "I upset him."

"Let's get you back on the bed," Dr. Roe said, helping her to sit on the edge of the mattress once more. She helped place her gown back on, covering her up to make her more comfortable. She proceeded to collect DNA swabs, and when she was done, she coaxed Regina to lie down and placed the oxygen mask back on her face. She pulled the blanket over her and then looked at Emma who was sitting on the chair beside her and holding her hand.

"The exam part is done, but I want to give her a break before I start the rape kit. It's not going to be easy for her." Emma nodded and once they were alone, she looked at the exhausted woman breathing heavily into the mask. She seemed to have become emotionally detached throughout the process and Emma wasn't sure how to snap her out of it. She squeezed her hand and remained silent. There wasn't anything to say that would make all of this better. Her silent comfort seemed to be exactly what Regina needed, because her breaths started to slow down soon after and she wasn't trembling so hard anymore.

She wanted to ask her about the scars on her back. Some of them looked as if they were freshly healed. What the hell was he doing to her? This bastard was going to pay.

Regina dozed off again until Dr. Roe and Nurse Dana were returning an hour later. They brought a fresh tray with different items.

"How is she?" Dr. Roe asked, observing the sleeping woman and recording her vitals.

"Once her breathing slowed, she fell asleep."

"I hate to wake her, but once it's done, she can finally sleep undisturbed."

Emma agreed, and was gently shaking her awake until sleepy eyes looked up at her in confusion.

"Regina, it's time to wake up." She let out a groan under the mask. "I know, I'm sorry. I know you're exhausted, but the sooner it's done, the sooner you could get some more sleep."

Regina eyed the doctor and nurse, and then the tray with uneasiness, maybe even a bit fearfully. Emma took her hand in an attempt to comfort her.

"You're ok, you could do this," Emma whispered as Nurse Dana raised the bed so Regina was sitting up and then encouraging her to scoot down. Emma saw the moment she emotionally shut down. Her brown eyes didn't make eye contact and she barely responded to Dr. Roes attempts to calm her. It wasn't until her legs were being positioned, knees up and spread with a sheet covering her, did she finally start to show emotion. Raw fear shone in her eyes, and Emma gently caressed her cheek, encouraging her to look at her.

"Just focus on me," she whispered. "It'll be over soon."

Regina shook and cried as Dr. Roe examined her private area, looking for any injuries and collecting samples.

"When did he last force you?" the doctor asked softly.

"Last night," Regina whispered as she slid the mask off. "I tried to tell him no." She slowly met Emma's eyes as if she were afraid that she'll be upset for not saying anything. Emma suddenly realized why Leopold had been angry at her enough to beat her and make her sleep on the bathroom floor. He was trying to force her and when she fought against him, he punished her. Regina was looking at her with a fearful look and Emma quickly blinked and tried to wipe the anger from her face.

"Did you wash up after?" Dr. Roe asked.

"No, I ran before he woke up."

"That's good," Dr. Roe praised her. "That way we have the samples that are needed. Now I don't see any new tears, but there is some scar tissue. How long has this been going on?"

"Since our wedding night," she admitted as if she were ashamed. Emma's mouth fell open in shock, because hadn't she been 17 when she was forced to marry him? Dr. Roe frowned as she continued to examine her, in fact she seemed to be engrossed in her thoughts like she had been when she had discovered the scars on Regina's back. Emma felt sick to her stomach at the possibility of her finding something that could be as bad as the lashings.

"Regina? Were you… pregnant?" Dr. Roe asked carefully, ending the examination and covering her up. Regina didn't answer, and Emma's heart was pounding in her ears, because she had never once thought of Regina ever being pregnant before. Regina pulled her legs back, and curled up not wanting to be touched anymore. "Regina?"

"I don't want to talk about this. I did the exam. Can I sleep now?" She sounded harsh, clearly not willing to answer the question; And Dr. Roe didn't force her to.

"Of course, get some sleep," she nodded, taking off her gloves and washing her hands. Nurse Dana cleared out the supplies, and after checking Regina's vitals, she wheeled the tray out of the room. "Emma, when you're ready, I need to talk to you."

She nodded and then focused on Regina who had placed the mask back on her face and took deep breaths. Emma was so shaken by the question and the fact that Regina couldn't answer. Did that mean she was pregnant once? Did she have it? Or did she…

Emma couldn't stop thinking about it even after Regina had finally fallen into a deep sleep. A dark hatred for the mayor grew inside her. She wanted to kill him. She had never felt such a deep intense hatred for anyone like she did for this sick piece of shit. She watched as Regina breathed deeply into the mask, finally being able to rest. Her dark hair was fanned out around her pillow, her face was pale making the dark bruise on her right eye more prominent. Her cheeks were stained with tears, and yet she still looked so beautiful to her. She wanted to kiss her, but as always she shoved the desire away. She needed to be strong for her and not let her feelings get in the way.

She couldn't stand sitting here with her racing thoughts, so she decided to go speak to Dr. Roe and then meet up with Graham. It was time the bastard got what was coming to him. She stood from her seat and gently combed her fingers through her dark hair, pushing the stray strands behind her ear.

"I'll be back," Emma whispered. "You're safe here." The urge to kiss her again was overwhelming, but she respectfully held herself back and left the room. Nurse Dana was at the nurses station and she promised to keep an eye out if Regina were to wake up before she returned.

Emma found Dr. Roe in her office, engrossed in something on her computer. She didn't even seem to notice Emma coming in until she was knocking on the threshold. She looked up at her and beckoned her to come in.

"Take a seat," she said. "There's something I need to show you."

Emma sat down across from her as the doctor turned her laptop around so she could see the screen. They were old medical reports. Emma started to scroll through them, realizing these were Regina's from the few times Leopold was forced to admit her.

I found some scarring from tears that indicate childbirth; And then from her scans we took today, I noticed scarring in her cervix. I was looking through her medical records and found a concerning one from 11 years ago." Emma perked up at that because it would only be a year before adopting Henry. She could remember Mary Margaret saying her last escape attempt was a year before adopting him and it had resulted in a great loss. She scrolled to the report Dr. Roe was talking about and her heart broke at what she read.

"She miscarried a baby at five months. The report read that she had just fallen down the stairs, but somehow I doubt that's what happened," Dr. Roe scoffed in disbelief.

Regina was 5 months pregnant and lost the baby… Emma leaned back in her chair in complete shock. This is why Regina was so afraid of running away. She was afraid of losing Henry.

"She delivered the baby's body," Dr. Roe continued, her voice trembling at the gruesome detail.

"You think he caused the misscarriage?" Emma asked, her voice shaking and her eyes watering. She felt like the office was spinning and she was about to be sick.

"The report doesn't match the injuries. Her cervix was bruised and her lower abdomen was severely bruised and injured as if she had been kicked repeatedly. The miscarriage and the bruising combined caused it to become what's known as an incompetent cervix."

"What does that mean?"

"Her cervix is weak and will dilate at the slightest pressure. She can't carry a baby to full term without risking a miscarriage."

"She can't have babies," Emma realized in complete distraught because not only did Regina lose her baby, she lost the ability to have them. Even if Regina didn't want kids from Leopold, Emma knew just how much she loved kids. She loved Henry with everything in her, and he brutally took away her option to have any more babies in the future.

Dr. Roe pulled out the flashdrive that had been connected to the laptop.

"Take this," she said, handing it to Emma. "Combined with the file I gave you, this should be enough for the court."

"Thank you," Emma nodded, taking it and slipping it into her pocket.

The first thing she did upon leaving the hospital was find the nearest trash can. She hurled until she was dry heaving and crying, clutching her cramping stomach and trying to breathe. It had been so overwhelming, sitting with Regina during her exam and rape kit and then sitting with Dr. Roe and finding out about the baby she had lost and how she could no longer have kids.

She couldn't get her fearful dark eyes out of her head or even the way she seemed to have emotionally dissociated herself during the exams. Regina has gone through more than Emma could ever imagine, and she made it her mission to make sure her son and his mother would never have to go back to that horrible man. When she had first arrived at Storybrooke, she thought she would have to save her son from his adoptive mother, but turns out his mother was the one who needed saving as well.

She wasn't even sure where they would go from here. Their original plans to drive to Boston no longer applied. Combined with the box of documents she found in the mausoleum, she had enough evidence to put this man away thanks to Dr. Roe's help. When she was sure she was no longer gonna be sick she found the nearest bench and sat down, trying to calm her nerves. Her own hands were shaking. She sat outside until Graham pulled up in the patrol car.

She immediately got into the passenger seat, more than ready to face the mayor of Storybrooke.

"Did you know?" she asked angrily before he could start the car.

"About the abuse?" he asked in confusion. "I thought we already established I'm a spineless coward."

"I'm talking about the rape!" she snapped. "I'm talking about the baby she fucking lost 11 years ago! And what about the damn marks on her back! What the fuck!" Her anger was bursting out of her and she couldn't even stop it this time.

Graham didn't say anything. He swallowed as if he had swallowed a pill and then looked at her with guilt ridden eyes. The same guilt that she was getting so sick of seeing in him.

"You know, you're just as bad as he is," Emma scoffed with a shake of disbelief. "Whatever he has on you can't be worth all this."

Graham was silent, the air between them so thick with tension, Emma felt like she was suffocating. She was just about to tell him to start the damn car when he finally spoke up.

"I was a kid when I first started in the force. I was only 19 and Leopold had hired me as a deputy. It was around the time of Regina's trials and the disappearance of Sheriff Flynn. So we had a new temporary sheriff from out of state to train me until I could take the sheriff's position."

Emma fell silent, realizing he was finally telling her what happened; Why he was covering for this man.

"I don't know what kind of people or associates Leopold is in league with, but this man was evil. Sheriff Nottingham would violate people's rights if he so much as thought they were committing even the smallest of crimes. He targeted the weaker minded, people who were too afraid to stand up to him. I followed along with him because I was young and stupid; And I was afraid of him.

"One night, we had been called out to the woods for some rowdy kids by the creek. He arrested them, there were three of them and he was so brutal to them, punching them if they so much as talked back to him. He was interrogating them. Once he started using his batton, I finally spoke up. I told him that we should get them in the car and get them to the station for processing. There was no need for this brutality.

"He sneered and said they were street kids and no one would miss them. I challenged him and he didn't like it. So while he was yelling at me and threatening me, one of the boys ran off and he… He shot him down. He killed him in the back and then made me take the blame for it. The other two boys never went against him. Nottingham brought it up to Leopold and of course he believed him. So now even after Nottingham had resigned and left the state, I carry the blame of what he did to that boy. He will put me in prison if I don't comply with his orders."

"So Nottingham is still out there?" she asked, disgusted at what she just heard. Graham shook his head.

"The ironic thing is, he got shot during an arrest after he moved. He didn't make it. He died with the truth."

"Ok…" Emma felt like she was going to be sick again. "Thank you for telling me, but… It doesn't change anything! Regina didn't deserve any of this just so you could keep your dark secret! You should have pulled her out the minute he laid a fucking hand on her!" She was yelling, and Graham was just taking it. She was so angry, she didn't give a damn that Graham had been through his own personal hell. "Do you have any idea what I just witnessed in the past hour and a half? Regina is…" she shook her head. "She lost everything because of you and because of Leopold, and I will not let her lose anything else. When this case goes to trial, you're going down with him."

He hung his head and finally started the car.

"I know," he admitted and pulled out of the hospital parking lot.

They didn't speak at all during the ride to the mansion. Emma was fuming. She couldn't understand how he could just stand by and let Leopold abuse and rape his wife. Despite what he had gone through, he should have stepped up. How can he call himself a sheriff and protect the people of this town if he turned a blind eye to domestic violence.

He pulled up into the driveway and they both exited the car and approached the front door. Leopold answered at the second knock. Emma was disgusted at the fact that he was just waiting at home the entire time, assuming Graham was out arresting his wife. The minute he stepped out, she caught sight of the now stitched gash on his temple. His face was bruised up and he seemed to be favoring his torso. She smirked, her eyes gleaming as she took in the battered sight of him. Regina didn't hold back. She gave him exactly what he deserves.

"Well Deputy Swan, I didn't think you had it in you," he chuckled in surprise. "Where's Regina? Handcuff in the cruiser?" He sounded so cocky and arrogant Emma couldn't hold back anymore.

That was when she lost it.

She pulled back her fist and got him right in the eye, the exact same one he had hit Regina in. He stumbled back in shock and Emma was about to go after him once more if Graham hadn't held her back. She hoped she broke his damn eye like he did with his wife. She would have broken his ribs too if it wasn't for the sheriff.

"What the hell!" Leopold yelled furiously, groaning in pain and holding his eye.

"Sir, you're under arrest for domestic violence and rape against your wife," Graham announced without hesitation.

"Regina assaulted me! She kidnapped my son!" he yelled, fighting against the handcuffs Graham quickly snapped on.

"You deserve every single hit she gives you! And Henry is our son, not yours!" Emma growled out, her eyes full of nothing but anger and hatred.

"Sheriff Graham, I order you to release me!" he yelled. "Or you're fired when I get out of this!"

"Go ahead, fire me for all I care. Then the state will send someone in to take our spots and I doubt they'll be covering for you. Besides, Emma's right. You do deserve this. I should have done this the moment you first laid a hand on her. I'm not covering for you anymore. You're gonna be charged, and I have a feeling you're not getting away with it this time."

"You're going down with me," Leopold sneered as he dragged him over to the car with Emma following behind. "You're the one who covered everything up."

"Then I'll pay the price like I should have years ago." Graham pushed him inside with no remorse and slammed the door shut.