Chapter 12: John Doe

Aliyah started snapping pictures of Mary Margret's class as they hung decorations around the hospital. She smiled when some kids posed for the camera and helped them out when asked.

"Thank you very much for your help, Aliyah." Mary Margret said, holding one end of a decoration.

"No problem. The kids are having a blast posing for pictures." Aliyah answered, holding the opposite end of the decoration.

"Oh! I'm excited to see those too!"

Aliyah smiled. She loved hearing her clients' excitement. She looked over her shoulder, noticing movement out of the corner of her eye. It was Henry in the ICU next to a patient. Heard Mary Margret sigh, Aliyah watched her come down from the footstool. "Who is that?" Aliyah asked, grabbing her arm before she left.

Mary Margret shrugged, "No one knows. He has been in a coma for as long as I have been volunteering."

"Oh, how sad."

"Yeah, it is." Aliyah dropped her hand, letting Mary Margret head inside for Henry.

Finishing up the decoration, Aliyah stepped off her stool and grabbed her camera to take some more photos. The kids immediately started posing, making her laugh once again. A few moments later, she felt a tug on her shirt. Having her suspicions, she turned around. It was Henry.

"Operation Cobra business." He whispered. Aliyah looked around, noticing Mary Margret on the other side of the room. Henry followed her, then looked back at her. "I didn't want to tell her yet. I wanted to make sure first."

"I don't think anyone is close enough to hear."

Henry looked around and nodded. "I think I found yours and Emma's dad, Prince Charming." He looked towards the ICU and Aliyah followed, "but I need to check my book first."

"You mean John Doe?" Henry nodded. "What do you have planned?"

"We need to tell Ms. Blanchard we found her Prince Charming and convince her to read their story to John Doe. Then, maybe he'll remember who he is and wake up."

Aliyah nodded. "That's a good plan. How about you get Emma to do it?"

"Do you think Emma could get Ms. Blanchard to do it? I was hoping you would."

Aliyah smiled at him, "If done right, I bet she could. It would be a good quest for her to level up."

Henry nodded, understanding what Aliyah was trying to say. "I get it. If he wakes up, it could help Emma believe."

Aliyah shook her head, still smiling. "It's going to take a lot more than this to get her to believe, but it could get her on the right track."

Henry looked around them again. "I'll meet Emma at the castle and tell her the plan."

"Sounds good. Don't tell her it was my idea to ask her. Make it appear it was part of your plan."

Satisfied with the plan, Henry nodded, giving her a hug before heading off.

Aliyah knocked on the door, holding her camera and laptop bag. She heard footsteps, relieved that she wasn't too quick on gathering her stuff.

"Hey!" Mary Margret greeted, holding the door for Aliyah to enter.

"Hey," Aliyah smiled, lifting her bags as she slipped by Mary Margret, "came by to show you the pictures." She stopped once she was inside, allowing Mary Margret to close the door behind her. She looked around, then back at Mary Margret. "Where would you…"

"Oh, you can put your stuff here." Mary Margret said, motioning towards the table and chairs. "Would you like something to drink?"

"Oh, just water for me, thanks." Aliyah said, placing her bags on the table and pulling the contents out. "I forgot to ask, how was your date with… Dr. Whale you said?" she asked, watching Mary Margret walk back to the table with two glasses of water. She placed the two glasses on the table with a sigh before sitting down with a flop. "That bad huh." Aliyah sat down, plugging in her memory card into her laptop.

"I kept rambling, and he kept ogling over Ruby."

Aliyah scrunched her nose. 'Eww' she thought. "Sadly, what I saw of him this morning, I can see him thinking he was all that. You can do better."

Mary Margret nodded, letting out a little laugh. "Thanks."

Aliyah nodded, pushing the screen towards Mary Margret once everything was ready. "There are several pictures in here. I separated the ones I let the kids take from the ones I did. They did a good job, to be honest. I was thinking we could pick from both sets. Personally, I have a few favorites, but I want you to pick out the ones you like."

Mary Margret nodded and looked through the pictures, pointing out the ones that had caught her attention. Aliyah checked them and continued on until they reached the last one. "You have a talent. They were all good. I couldn't pick which one I liked the most. And the kids, you were right, they did a wonderful job." Aliyah smiled. "And I can see why Regina wanted to hire you. I saw you with the kids. You were very patient with them."

"You heard about that?"

Mary Margret smiled. "Ruby might have mentioned you were having breakfast with Regina and overheard some of your conversation. I think it's great."

"Well, spread the word then. Classes may come soon. I still need to iron out the details with her."

Mary Margret was about to respond when they heard a knock at the door. Checking the time, she got up and headed towards the door. Recognizing Emma's voice, Aliyah started putting her equipment up.

"Hey sis," Emma eyed her. Aliyah smiled, noticing Henry's book. Did Emma figure out it was her that gave Henry the idea?

"Would you like some cocoa?" Mary Margret asked, heading towards the counter. The two nodded and followed.

"Did I come at a bad time?" Emma asked.

Aliyah shook her head and slipped onto the stool. "We were just finishing up."

"So, what brings you here?" Mary Margret asked, placing three mugs on the bar.

Emma sighed, watching the steam rise in her cup. "This might sound crazy, but" She placed the book on the bar counter. "Henry wanted you to read that to John Doe in the ICU. Tonight."

Mary Margret stood there in silence for a bit. Aliyah saw a bit of confusion come across her face. "You want me to read to a coma patient?"

"Henry thinks it will help him remember who he was."

"Makes sense." The two looked at Aliyah. Shrugging, she continued, "I mean, it helped me."

Mary Margret was about to ask Aliyah what she meant, but decided against it and looked back at Emma. "And who does he think he was?"

Emma looked back at Mary Margret, "Prince Charming." Then glanced at Aliyah. She held a smile, taking an interest in her cocoa.

"And if I'm Snow White, he thinks... me... and him..."

"He has a very active imagination, which is the point. I can't talk him out of his beliefs," she looked back at Aliyah, "and you're not helping," she looked back at Mary Margret, "so we need to show him. Play along, do what he says and then maybe, just maybe—"

Mary Margret looked between the two. She noticed Aliyah had a look of sadness on her face. "He'll see that fairy tales are just that—that there's no such thing as love at first sight or first kiss. He'll see reality."

Emma nodded. "Something like that."

"Well... sadly, this plan is rather genius. We get him to the truth without hurting him."

"It won't stop him." The two looked at Aliyah. She looked back at them. "With his determination, he won't let this stop him from believing."

"Do you have any other ideas?" Mary Margret asked.

Aliyah shrugged. "We will find another way. Let's see how tonight plays out."

"I told him we will all meet tomorrow for breakfast at Granny's. And you will give a full report." Emma continued. "He wants you to be there too, Aliyah."

Taking a sip from her cocoa, Mary Margret looked between the two. "Well, I suppose I'll get ready for my date. I guess I'll have to do all the talking."

Aliyah smiled, "It has to be better than the Doc."

Mary Margret let out a laugh, then headed upstairs.