Chapter 8: Unveiled
The first few weeks of Emma's role as a deputy involved patrolling the streets of Storybrooke alongside Sheriff Graham. It was an adjustment, balancing the quiet routine of the town with the sporadic bursts of excitement. One evening, in particular, underscored the unique challenges of her new job.They were called to a local pub where the night had taken a rowdy turn. A very short, stout man, whom the locals referred to as Leroy but who Graham whispered was known among some townsfolk as Grumpy, was causing a ruckus.
His demeanor matched the latter name well; he was belligerently drunk and trying to start fights with anyone who glanced his way.With some effort, Emma and Graham managed to escort him out of the pub and into the back of their patrol car. The ride to the station was filled with Leroy's loud complaints and declarations that he was just "enjoying a night out." Once they secured him in a cell for the night, hoping a few hours of sobering up might calm his spirits, Graham leaned against the bars with a sigh.
"Never a dull moment, huh?" he joked, though his smile faded as he glanced toward the window. Emma, sensing a shift in his mood, watched him curiously. "Everything okay, Graham?"
He hesitated, then shared something that had been on his mind. "There's this... wolf, I keep seeing. Or I think I see. It's hard to tell if it's real or if I'm dreaming."
He rubbed the back of his neck. "It's strange, but I feel this kind of connection to it, like it's guiding me somewhere."
Emma listened, her expression one of concern mixed with intrigue. "It sounds like it's important to you. Maybe it means something, or maybe it's just the stress getting to you."
Graham nodded, looking out the window again. "Maybe. But it feels real, Emma. And the urge to follow it is strong."
"I believe you," Emma reassured him, placing a comforting hand on his arm. "Maybe you should follow it next time, see where it leads."
Graham smiled faintly, grateful for her support. The next day, however, brought a new challenge that neither patrolling nor mythical wolves could prepare Emma for. As she picked up a copy of Storybrooke's daily newspaper, her heart sank.
There, on the front page, was an article detailing her juvenile arrest at sixteen for stealing watches. The article painted a grim picture, casting doubt on her character and suitability as a deputy. Emma's hands trembled as she held the paper. There was no question in her mind about who was responsible for this exposé—Regina.
Fueled by a mix of anger and determination, she stormed over to the mayor's office.Barging past the secretary, Emma confronted Regina, who looked up from her desk, unsurprised yet clearly displeased by the intrusion.
"Did you enjoy digging through my past, Regina?" Emma demanded, slamming the newspaper down on her desk. Regina eyed the paper coolly before meeting Emma's gaze.
"I believe the people of Storybrooke deserve to know who's protecting them, don't you?"
"This is a low blow, even for you," Emma shot back, her voice thick with contempt. "You're trying to make me leave, but I'm not going anywhere. I'm here for Henry, and I'm not letting your petty vendettas drive me out."
Regina stood, her demeanor icy. "This isn't just about you, Ms. Swan. It's about what's best for this town. And as long as you're here stirring up trouble, I will do what I must to protect my town."
Emma leaned in, her eyes blazing. "And I will do whatever it takes to protect my son. This isn't over, Regina."
With that, Emma turned on her heel and left, the mayor's office door slamming shut behind her. As she walked back to the sheriff's station, her resolve hardened. Emma knew the road ahead would be fraught with obstacles, but she was ready to face them head-on, not just for her sake, but for Henry's too.
The afternoon light streamed through the windows of Granny's Diner, casting warm patches on the wooden tables. Emma sat in one of the booths, enjoying a cup of hot chocolate—rich with whipped cream and sprinkled with cinnamon. Ruby, her vibrant red hair shining under the diner's lights, leaned against the counter, chatting amiably with Emma. The atmosphere was casual and friendly, a welcome break from the tension of the morning.
Their conversation was suddenly interrupted by the chime of the door as it swung open, admitting Regina and Henry into the diner. Regina's gaze swept the room, landing on Emma with a glare that was both icy and swift. Henry, however, seemed unaffected by his adoptive mother's mood, his face lighting up as he spotted Emma. He rushed over to her booth, excitement in his step.
"Emma!" Henry exclaimed, sliding into the seat opposite her.
Regina followed more slowly, her expression composed yet cold. She ordered her usual from Ruby, who nodded and moved away to prepare it.
"Hey, Henry," Emma greeted warmly, her eyes flicking toward Regina as she approached. "How was school today?"
"It was okay. We learned about butterflies in science," Henry replied, his enthusiasm palpable.
"That sounds fun," Emma smiled, turning to include Regina in the conversation. "Hi, Regina. Nice afternoon, isn't it?"
Regina merely nodded, her lips tight as she took a seat at the counter, waiting for her order. Emma turned her attention back to Henry, discussing his school projects and his favorite subjects, trying to maintain a normal conversation for his sake.
As they chatted, Regina, who had received her coffee, made a pointed comment loud enough for Emma to hear. "Some people just don't know when they're not wanted," she muttered, stirring her coffee with a clink that seemed overly loud in the quiet of the diner.
Emma felt a spike of anger at the jab, her grip tightening on her cup. She inhaled deeply, reminding herself that she was there for Henry, and managed to keep her voice even. "It's always good to see where you're wanted and by whom," she responded lightly, focusing on Henry's bright face.
At that moment, Mary Margaret Blanchard entered the diner. Spotting Emma, she waved and made her way over. "Hey, roomie," she greeted with a cheerful smile. Her presence seemed to shift the atmosphere, adding a layer of comfort for Emma.
Regina's eyes narrowed slightly at Mary Margaret's arrival, her irritation palpable as she redirected her displeasure. "Mary Margaret, always a pleasure," she said, her tone anything but pleased.
"Regina," Mary Margaret replied with a polite nod, sensing the tension. "Enjoying the afternoon?"
Before the situation could escalate, Emma decided it was time to leave. "Henry, I've got to get going, but it was great seeing you," she said, ruffling his hair affectionately.
"Bye, Emma! Bye, Mary Margaret!" Henry called out as the two women slid out of the booth.
Mary Margaret and Emma exited the diner together, walking down the main street of Storybrooke and chatting about their day. It was a nice change of pace for Emma, feeling the solidarity of a friend by her side.
However, their leisurely stroll was cut short when Emma noticed Graham across the street, looking unusually disheveled and distracted. He seemed to be heading toward the woods at the edge of town.
"Mary Margaret, I need to check on something," Emma said quickly, her eyes fixed on Graham's retreating figure. "Can we catch up later?"
"Of course, go ahead," Mary Margaret responded with a concerned frown.
Emma hurried across the street, calling out to Graham. "Graham! Hey, wait up!"
She caught up to him just as he was entering the tree line, his pace determined. "Graham, what's going on?" she asked, worry creasing her brow.
Graham stopped, turning to face her with a haunted look in his eyes. "I thought I saw it again, the wolf. I need to follow it, Emma. It's important."
Understanding the depth of his conviction, Emma nodded, deciding to follow him into the woods. Whatever this was about, Graham clearly needed support, and Emma was determined to help him unravel the mystery of the wolf that seemed to call to him so deeply.
The forest around them had grown darker, the shadows deepening as twilight descended upon Storybrooke. Emma and Graham had been wandering through the woods for hours, following Graham's instinctive tracking of the elusive wolf he claimed to see. Emma's concern for her friend grew with each passing hour; his desperation was almost palpable, his gaze darting through the trees as if he could will the animal appear.
"Just a little longer, Emma," Graham kept saying, his voice tinged with an urgency that bordered on obsession.
However, as the light faded completely, making it difficult to see, Emma put a hand on Graham's shoulder. "We should call it a night, Graham. We can hardly see anything now," she urged, her voice firm yet gentle.
Reluctantly, Graham nodded, and they turned back toward the town. It was then, quite unexpectedly, that they stumbled upon a small, secluded cemetery. The sight was startling enough, but what truly shocked them was the figure of Regina Mills standing by a grave, laying a bouquet of flowers on a tombstone engraved with Henry. A Loving Father.'
Regina looked up, her expression one of profound sorrow that morphed quickly into sharp anger as she saw Emma and Graham. "What are you doing here?" she demanded, her voice icy.
"We're just heading back to town. Police work," Emma answered quickly, trying to defuse the situation, though her eyes lingered curiously on the grave marker.
Graham, however, hadn't noticed Regina's initial emotional state. His attention was elsewhere. His body tensed, his eyes wide as he stared at a point just beside Regina. "The wolf... it's there, right next to you!" he shouted, pointing.
Regina, who saw nothing beside her, looked at him as if he were mad. "What are you talking about, Graham? There's nothing there."
But Graham was beyond listening. With a yell, he lunged toward Regina, driven by a mix of fear and determination to reach the wolf he alone could see.
Reacting on instinct, Emma tackled Graham to the ground before he could get close to Regina. The two of them scuffled on the cold ground, Graham's strength surprising as he struggled against Emma. It took all her training and resolve to finally restrain him, snapping handcuffs around his wrists.
Regina, who had stepped back in shock, watched the scene unfold with growing fury. "This is madness, Emma! He needs to be locked up," she insisted, her voice trembling with anger and perhaps a hint of fear.
Emma, breathing heavily from the exertion, nodded. "I agree. Let's get him back to the station." She helped a now subdued Graham to his feet and began leading him away from the cemetery, her mind racing with questions about what had just occurred.
The walk back was silent, the weight of the night pressing down on all of them. Once they reached the police station, Emma secured Graham in a cell. He seemed calmer now but deeply troubled, his eyes haunted as he sat on the edge of the cot, staring at nothing.
Regina, still visibly upset, turned to Emma as they stepped outside the cell area. "This should not have happened, Emma. Graham is clearly... disturbed."
Emma nodded, her thoughts on Graham's apparent hallucinations. "I'll stay here with him tonight. Make sure he's okay. We'll figure out what's going on with him," she assured Regina, though her own heart was heavy with concern.
Regina looked at Emma, her expression softening slightly. "See that you do," she said before turning and leaving the station, her figure swallowed by the darkness of the night.
Left alone, Emma sat down outside Graham's cell, her mind a whirlwind of thoughts about wolves, graves, and unseen threats. She knew there was more to Graham's visions than mere hallucinations, and she was determined to uncover the truth. For now, though, her priority was to ensure Graham's safety and to navigate the murky waters of a night that had changed everything.