A near miss

Jules asked for a oneshot of Emma getting shot (non-fatally) whilst she and Charming are on patrol. He has to keep her calm while they wait for the ambulance and then she keeps him calm while he realises he might have lost her.

"What's your favourite colour?" Charming asked, running out of good questions.

"You've known me properly for over two years now and you still don't know that?" Emma hissed. Charming smiled. Right now, Emma could hurl all the abuse she wanted at him, as long as it kept her distracted from the wound in her shoulder. It wasn't a fatal shot, both of them knew that, but there was a fair amount of blood and it had to sting like a bitch. The blood had already soaked through Charming's shirt (he'd padded Emma's shoulder with it).

"Well we should change it now then, so gimme an answer." He said in his charming way.

"Red." Emma hissed through the pain. "I just wish there wasn't so much red stuff coming out of my damn shoulder."

"I know honey. The ambulance will be here in a couple of minutes. Beaches or parks?"

"Seriously?!" Emma yelled, wishing he would shut up.

"Seriously. Humour your old man."

"Beaches. I lived in Florida, there were beaches everywhere, complete with sunshine and shirtless dudes." Emma said, knowing she would annoy him. She meant to.

"Ugh, did I need to know that?" Charming said, trying to wipe the image. "Safe to say I won't be going to any beaches with you. Now, chocolate or crisps?"

A few more annoying questions later and the ambulance had finally arrived. The paramedics got out and whizzed over to them. Charming stepped back, allowing them to do their job. Snow would be meeting them at the hospital, he would call when they were officially on their way.

"Boy did you get lucky, sheriff." Said one of the paramedics, taking a good look at the wound. "Just a few centimetres more to the right and this would have hit your Cephalic vein. That could have been very messy. But not to worry, you should be ok. If in a bit of pain but when we get you to the hospital they'll sort that right out." Hearing that put Charming into shock. He could have lost her? Emma noticed the way her father looked as the paramedics placed her on the stretcher and took her over to the ambulance. She reached her good arm out and grabbed his hand.

"You ok?" She breathed through the pain. Charming tried to snap out of it, but looking at her made it worse. He got into the ambulance with her and kissed her forehead.

"I could have lost you." He said, eyes watering up. "Just a few centimetres, do you know how far beyond too close that is?"

"I won't lie to you dad, little too concerned with the pain right now to care. But you don't need to worry. You didn't lose me, and you're not gonna lose me. We're a sheriff team, I'm not going to leave you to run this town by yourself." She joked. Charming smiled, taking her hand.

"See that you don't. But seriously, Emma. Don't ever scare me like that again. If you see a gun scream and I'll come cover you." Emma raised an eyebrow.

"I'm not sure you got what I just said. In order for us to be a team we both have to be around."

"Oh I got you. But if something's going to happen to one of us it's going to be me. Because I'm the dad and I make the rules. Got that missy?" He said, gently tapping her nose. Emma rolled her eyes.

"Whatever you say big guy." She responded. They were nearing the hospital now, and Charming knew she'd be taken away and he wouldn't be allowed to see her for a bit. Snow would be there and it would give him a chance to explain the situation- minus the part about Emma being so close to death.

"I'll be right there as soon as we're allowed to see you." He said firmly. "If you need me, just scream, I'll come running."

"Ok." Emma said quietly, trying not to show how scared she really was. She hated hospitals.

"It's ok." Charming said, sensing her fear. "You're going to be just fine." The ambulance parked right outside of the hospital. When Charming looked out of the window he could already see a hospital bed with Whale and a couple of nurses waiting for Emma- with Snow right beside them.

"End of the line folks! We ready?" One of the paramedics asked. Charming nodded, giving them a smile.

"Let's get going."