Sorry for the delay! I only write for this fic when the inspiration/ muse, hits and sometimes it's few and far between. But here we have a new chapter. Not proof read, and not the longest. Please leave a comment! This story is going to be wrapping up in the next few chapters. Who knows maybe this will be done before the new Year!
Avery was carrying his little girl in his arms, her head rolled back, and body motionless. Avery swam as hard and as fast as he could towards land while keeping a tight grip on Emma. When he finally reached the edge of the water he stood up and passed Emma to Graham.
Graham quickly ran with Emma towards flat ground so he could start CPR. Avery was being weighed down by his wet clothes but he stumbled and awkwardly ran towards Emma. Regina was already crouched by Emma's head stroking her cheek, kissing her head, and running her finger through her hair, as she openly cried waiting for any sign of life from Emma.
Graham was pumping on her small chest and Avery winced. They could hear the sirens in the distance, but knew it would be a few more minutes until they actually got there. Graham looked up while still doing the compressions. He looked at Avery first then at Regina. Both knew what he was thinking. Avery screamed and kicked the ground in anger and frustration. The townspeople that were still there placed a comforting hand on his back but refrained from speaking.
When Grahams eye's caught Regina's he looked away. Her eyes were red and wide with sorrow and pain. Regina shook her head, "DOn't. Don't you dare give up on her!"
Regina then bent back down and whispered into Emma's ear, "Mommy's here. I'm here my sweet girl. And Avery is here, and Graham. Henry is waiting for you at home and Ruby and Granny are waiting for you at the diner. Come on baby girl. Fight, keep fighting."
Graham could only hear pieces of what Regina said but he knew not to stop his compressions. As the paramedics were rounding the corner Emma made a sound almost like a huff, and threw up water. Emma coughed and coughed. Both Regina and Graham were startled by the sudden movement but quickly turned Emma over into the recovery position.
As Emma expelled the water the paramedics rushed over. Graham and Regina were both forced to take a step back. The paramedics placed an oxygen mask on Emma and radioed to the hospital letting them know that they were coming.
The paramedics asked quickly if anyone was coming with them they could only allow one person though. Avery nodded to Regina in a silent understanding that Regina would go with Emma.
Regina jumped into the back of the ambulance and waited with bated breath as the drove to the hospital. Regina held onto Emma's hand the whole ride. Even after expelling the water Emma has yet to open her eyes.
When they arrived at the hospital the EMTs rattled off what they knew so far, "Young female approximately 5 years old, fell from Storybrooke waterfall, was submerged in water, consciousness was lost for undetermined amount of time. Chest compressions were administered. Child has yet to regain consciousness."
Doctor Whale immediately rolled Emma towards the ICU and ordered a full work up on her, while a nurse stopped Regina from following, "Please Madam Mayor, the Doctors need to concentrate on getting Emma better. Please come with me to the waiting room."
Regina reluctantly allowed the nurse to escort her to the waiting room, as she watched Emma and the doctors disappear down the hospital hallways.
About 30 minutes later Graham came rushing around the corner with Henry, Avery, and Ruby in tow. Henry engulfed Regina in a hug and frantically asked if Emma was ok, "Is she? Has the doctor said anything? She's ok right?"
Regina rubbed Henry's back and guided him into a chair, "My little prince… Emma's still with the doctors. They are doing everything they can to make sure Emma's going to be ok. I… I am still waiting for an update."
When Avery heard that they were still working on Emma he grasped his hair and stormed from the room. Graham followed after him.
Regina watched the two men leave and told Henry to stay there, and that she was going to try and find out some information on Emma.
Henry nodded and put his head into his hands.
Regina walked over to Ruby, who was standing by the door, and couldn't even get words out before her eyes filled with tears. Ruby quickly led Regina out of the small waiting room and into the hallway, where she pulled her into a tight embrace.
Regina sobbed and clutched at Ruby's shirt, as she fought to keep herself upright. Regina cried and cried while Ruby remained strong and kept Regina standing.
Regina shook her head in Ruby's neck and asked, "Why Emma? Why her? She's this ray of sunshine and she is constantly getting the consequences of other people's actions. Why my Emma? How could he? How could he do that to her?"
Ruby got the gist of what had happened from Graham and wondered the same thing. One of the nurses brought over a box of tissues and said, "Someone should be coming out to give you an update soon."
Ruby nodded and took the tissues before mouthing 'Thank you'. The nurse nodded and went back to the nurses station.
A few minutes later a doctor slowly walked from behind the double doors and nodded to the nurse.
Regina immediately locked eyes with the doctor and stood up straight. The doctor smiled slightly and gestured for Regina to join him. Regina and Ruby followed the doctor to the end of the hall, "We were able to get her breathing on her own. As long as everything continues to go well and he oxygen levels remain stable she should be fine, assuming brain function is still intact."
Regina sagged with relief, "So I can take her home?"
The doctor paused, "While she is doing better I do want to keep her admitted for at least a day. I'd rather be overly cautious given the situation."
Ruby tilted her head, "What do you mean?"
The doctor nodded, "Let me back track. As you know drowning is when water gets into the lungs and the level of oxygen going to the brain is depleted. Emma was resuscitated on scene expelling much of the water and allowing oxygen to return to the brain. What we are looking out for is secondary drowning or 'delayed' drowning. Since Emma was under water we want to make sure that her lungs are clear, that none of the water that was inhaled is causing any kind of swelling in the air sacs in her lungs. We want to ensure that she has no trouble breathing in the coming days. We also want to check her brain function. Any time without oxygen is not good, but extended periods of time… we, we would rather just be safe than sorry."
Regina closed her eyes not even wanting to imagine Emma not being able to breathe, or having brain damage. Regina then looked at the doctor, "Can I see her?"
The doctor nodded, "Of course. She is going to the Peds unit. Once she is moved and settled I will have someone bring you and your family to her."
Regina and Ruby thanked the doctor and headed back into the waiting room to sit with Henry.
Graham ran after Avery and grabbed his arm, stopping him from walking out of the hospital. Avery snatched his arm away and glared at Graham, "Don't touch me. Don't you dare touch me!"
Graham could see the nurses take a step away from them and security guard take a step closer.
Graham raised his hand in surrender, "Look I just want to talk to you. Please."
Avery look at Graham before grumbling fine and walking outside.
Graham followed Avery and stopped him in the parking lot where they had parked the cruiser. Avery dug into his jacket pocket and pulled out an empty carton of cigarettes. Angry he threw the garbage at the car and slammed his fists onto the hood of the cruiser. He slammed his hands harder and harder onto the roof. Soon his vision was burred from his tears, but he wanted the pain.
Graham waited until Avery released the majority of his anger before placing a hand on his back. Avery wanted to shrug the hand off but just hung his head, "Why? Why Emma? How.. how could my dad.. how could he? She's just a little girl."
Graham nodded, "I get it I do. I want nothing more than to keep your father locked up and throw away the key. I want nothing more than to find that bastard now and lock him up with some not so nice people and turn my back. But more than that, more than that combined I want Emma to be ok."
Avery turned around and leant back against the cruiser, "Come on man, you saw her. She was in the water how long. Scared. Cold. How long was she not breathing?"
Graham shook his head, "Don't talk about her like that."
Avery sniffled, "Like what man?"
Graham then snapped back at him, "Like she's dead! Like she's not coming back! Don't you talk about her like she's not the strongest and most resilient little girl on the entire eastern seaboard! Don't give up on her, don't you dare give up on Emma. Don't give up on your daughter."
Graham sighed and put his hands on his waist, "Look.. it's been a long, stressful night. I need to look for this Ritchie guy. I think you should stay here."
Avery ran a hand through his hair and nodded, "yeah. yeah, you're right."
Graham nodded and placed a hand on Avery's shoulder, "I'll walk up with you, see if there is any update."
Avery nodded and headed back inside the hospital with Graham's hand on his shoulder.
Regina was escorted to Emma's room. Regina could see Emma's little body on that too big hospital bed. She had bruises and a small cut on her cheek. To the naked eye Emma looked like a little girl sleeping peacefully — but Regina heard the doctor, Emma has yet to wake up. Emma has yet to open her green eyes, has yet to smile and brighten someone's day, she has yet to speak and fill people's hears with joy.
Regina is sitting in the chair next to Emma's bed. She's holding her small hand and singing 'You are my sunshine", Emma loves the song.
Regina is waiting and watching, looking for any sign, any tic, anything. When the door opens Regina doesn't remove her eyes from Emma.
The figure at the door slowly walks to the other side of Emma's bed and sits in the chair. Regina shifts her gaze from Emma's face to the person that just entered. Regina looked at Avery and could still see the tear tracks and the wet clothing. Avery looked at Emma and shook his head, "Come on Ems. You're so strong, just like you mom and Madison."
Avery then paused and took Emma's hand, "I'm so sorry. This is all my fault."
As Avery spoke Regina snapped her head to him, "This is not your fault Avery. It's not."
Avery shook his head, "I—I bring nothing but pain and death to the people I care about. I should have never gotten close to her, I should have never tried to be in her life. Now because of me… because of me she's in a hospital bed."
Regina thought for a moment, as much as she wanted to blame Avery, she couldn't. This, this incident, really wasn't his fault. Regina wanted to hate him, wanted to hate so she would be able to ban him from ever seeing Emma again, but she couldn't. Avery wasn't the bad guy, he's just a poor decision maker.
Regina sighed, "Emma's still alive, thanks to you. You jumped in, no hesitation and got her. You pulled her to safety. You saved her."
Avery shook his head, "Regina.. I.."
Regina then cut him off, "Did you call Ritchie and tell him where Emma was? Who Emma was? Did you kidnap her? Did you hold her hostage? Did you hurt her? Did you jump off a cliff with her hoping she'd die? If all the answers to those questions are 'No" then you didn't do this to her."
Avery and Regina were in a intense stare off when Graham came into the room, "I got him. I got him."