AN: This chapter combines "The Thing You Love Most" and "Snow Falls"
Snow Falls
The next morning Starla was walking down Main Street on her way to Granny's to get some coffee before school. She was scared a little bit when she heard the bell on the clock tower above the library chime. She looked up at the clock and was surprised to see the minute hand move. She grabbed a copy of the Storybrooke Daily Mirror out of a paper box and looked at the front page.
On the front page was a big picture of the woman that she saw talking to Mary Margaret the day before. The headline read: Stranger Destroys Historic Sign. Alcohol Involved. Starla glanced at the article. The woman's name was Emma Swan, and she crashed into the Welcome to Storybrooke sign on the town line after apparently seeing a wolf standing in the road.
Later that morning, Starla was standing in front of the school with Mary Margaret, Alex and Melody talking and watching students arrive. They heard Henry Mills call out, "I knew you'd believe me!"
They turned and saw him running up to the school, Emma Swan was right behind him, and she called out to him, "I never said I did."
"Why else would you be here?" said Henry, as he ran to the school.
The four teachers went up to Emma and Mary Margaret said, "It's good to see his smile back."
"I didn't do anything," said Emma.
"You stayed," said Mary Margaret, "These are my friends, Starla Butler, fellow 5th grade teacher. Alex Johnson, gym teacher. And, Melody Hart, music teacher." Emma nodded at each woman. Then Mary Margaret asked, "So, does the Mayor know you're still here?"
"Oh, she knows. What is her deal? She's not a great people person. How did she get elected?"
"She's been mayor for as long as I can remember," said Starla.
"No one's ever been brave enough to run against her.," said Alex.
"She inspires quite a bit of, well, fear," said Melody.
"I'm afraid I only made that worse by giving Henry that book," said Mary Margaret, "Now he thinks she's the Evil Queen."
"Who does he think you guys are?" asked Emma.
"Oh, it's silly," said Starla with a laugh.
"I just got five minutes of silly. Lay it on me."
"Well," said Starla, "He thinks that Alex, Melody and I are Princess Gwenevere and The Jewel Riders."
"What?" asked Emma with a bit of a laugh, "From that cartoon in the 90s?"
"Yeah, apparently Princess Gwenevere is Prince Charming's sister."
Emma looked at Mary Margaret, "How about you?"
"Snow White," answered Mary Margaret, "Who does he think you are?"
"I'm not in the book. Can I ask you a favor? Regina mentioned the kid's in therapy. Do you know where I could find the doctor?"
"His office is just across from Granny's," said Melody.
"Thanks," said Emma, "Nice to meet all of you." Then she left.
A few days later, Starla and Mary Margaret were at the hospital with their classes. As their students visited with the patients and put up decorations, Starla said to Mary Margaret, "So… How did your date with Dr. Whale go?"
Mary Margaret sighed, "About the same as usual."
Starla put a hand on her friend's shoulder. As far as she could remember, Mary Margaret was unlucky with love, "You'll find the one someday." Mary Margaret smiled. Starla smiled back and looked over at John Doe's room. She saw Henry in there. "Come on…"
Starla and Mary Margaret walked in just as Henry was about to touch his face, "Henry," said Mary Margaret, "We could really use your help with the decorations."
"Is Mr. Doe going to be okay, Miss Blanchard?" asked Henry.
"His name's not John Doe," said Starla, "That's just what they call people when they don't know who they are."
"Do you two know who he is?"
"Nope," said Mary Margaret, "We just bring him flowers on our rounds."
"What's wrong with him?" asked Henry.
"I don't know," said Starla, "He's been like this as long as Miss Blanchard and I've been volunteering."
"Does he have any family or friends?"
"No one's claimed him," said Mary Margaret.
"So, he's all alone," said Henry.
"Yeah… It's quite sad."
"You sure you two don't know him?"
"Course I'm sure," said Starla, "Come on. You shouldn't be in here."
Then they walked out of the room.
That night, Starla was walking out of the hospital and saw Mary Margaret walking toward it, holding a book, "Mary Margaret?" asked Starla. "What are you doing here?"
"Oh Well. According to Emma, Henry thinks John Doe is Prince Charming."
"Really?" said Starla, "Well that would make him my brother... Which is odd because I don't have a brother."
"Anyway, Emma told me that Henry thinks that if I read to him from the book, it would help John remember who is was."
"What does Emma think?"
"Emma wants me to play along so we can show him that fairy tales aren't real."
Starla nodded, "As sad as it sounds… that's a pretty good plan. Henry needs to know the truth and this way he doesn't get hurt."
"That was my thought… So, I'm going to read to him then report back to Emma and Henry tomorrow morning at Granny's."
"Do you think Emma and Henry would mind if I came too?" asked Starla, "After all he's supposed to be my brother."
"No… I don't think they would mind."
"Great," said Starla, "See you tomorrow."
The next morning, Starla walked into Granny's and saw Emma and Henry sitting across from each other. She walked up to them and said, "Hi… Do you guys mind if I join you? I ran into Mary Margaret, outside the hospital last night and she told me about your plan."
"Sure," said Henry, "That's fine." Starla sat down next to Emma. Just then, Henry saw Mary Margaret walk in.
Emma and Starla turned and saw Mary Margaret at the door of the diner. They turned and looked back at Henry and Emma said, "Hey, don't get your hopes up. We're just getting started, okay?"
Mary Margaret sat down at the table next to Henry and said, "He woke up."
"What?" asked Emma and Starla.
Henry smiled, "I knew it."
"I mean, he didn't 'wake up' wake up, but he grabbed my hand," said Mary Margaret.
"He's remembering!"
"What did Dr. Whale say?" asked Starla.
"That I imagined it, but I'm not crazy," said Mary Margaret, "I know it happened."
"We have to go back," said Henry, "You have to read to him again."
Mary Margaret thought for a second then she said, "Let's go."
Henry and Mary Margaret jumped up and headed for the door before Emma and Starla realized what was going on, "Wait, wait what?" said Emma.
Emma and Starla stood up then, Mary Margaret said, "If I got through to him, if we made a connection..."
"You don't believe…" Starla started to say.
"That he's Prince Charming?" finished Mary Margaret, "Of course not. Somehow, some way, I touched him."
They got to the hospital and when they got close to John Doe's room, they saw Dr. Whale and some nurses in his room. "You're right. he's waking up." said Henry.
They were almost to John Doe's room when they saw Graham, Sheriff of Storybrooke. He turned and faced them, "Henry, you should stay back."
"What's going on?" asked Starla.
"Is it John Doe?" asked Mary Margaret, "Is he okay?"
"He's missing," said Graham.
Just then they saw Regina was in John Doe's room and she saw them. She stormed out of the room and said, "What the hell are you doing here?" She looked at Henry, "And you," she grabbed his arm, pulled him close to her, knelt down to look him in the eyes, "I thought you were at the arcade. Now you're lying to me?"
"What happened to John Doe?" asked Mary Margaret, "Did someone take him?"
"We don't know yet," said Graham, "His IVs were ripped out but there's no sign for sure there's a struggle."
"What did you do?" asked Henry.
"You think I had something to do with this?" asked Regina.
"It is curious that the mayor is here," said Emma.
"I'm here because I'm his emergency contact."
"You know him?" asked Starla.
"I found him," said Regina, "On the side of the road years ago with no ID. I brought him here."
"Mayor Mills saved his life," said Dr. Whale as he walked over.
"Will he be okay?" asked Mary Margaret.
"Okay? The man's been on feeding tubes for years, under constant supervision. He needs to get back here right away or, quite honestly, 'okay' might be a pipe dream."
"Well then, let's quit yapping and start looking," said Emma, as she turned and took a few steps away.
"That's what we're doing," said Regina. Emma stopped and looked back at the mayor. Then, Regina continued. "Just stay out of this, dear. And since I clearly can't keep you away from my son, I guess I'm just going to have to keep my son away from you." She and Henry started to leave. When they reached Emma, Regina stopped and said to her, "Enjoy my shirt, because that's all you're getting." Regina looked at Graham, "Sheriff, find John Doe. You heard Dr. Whale. Time is precious." Then Regina and Henry left.
"Doctor, how long between your rounds since you last saw him?" asked Graham.
"Twelve hours or so," said Dr. Whale.
"Then that's what we need to account for."
Graham, Emma, Starla and Mary Margaret went to the security room. Walter, the hospital security guard, and Leroy, the hospital janitor, were both there, "You two were the only employees on the floor last night. And you saw nothing?" asked Graham.
"Not a thing." said Walter.
"Did anyone walk by?" Emma asked.
"I didn't see nothin'," said Leroy.
"Miss Blanchard, Miss Butler was there anything unusual either of you saw during your trip with your class?" asked Graham.
"I don't think so," said Mary Margaret.
"No," said Starla.
Emma walked up to the monitor, "We're looking at the wrong tape. This is the ward where Henry's class put up decorations. If this was really the tape from last night, we'd see the banners the kids hung."
"Tch, you fell asleep again," said Leroy.
"You selling me out?" asked Walter.
"I ain't getting fired for this."
"At least I don't drink on the job."
"Gentlemen, enough. Where's the real tape?" asked Graham.
They tape was switched they watched John Doe get up and walk out the door, "He walked out alone. He's okay." said Mary Margaret.
"Four hours ago. Where does this door lead?" asked Emma.
"The woods," said Leroy.
Emma, Starla, Graham and Mary Margaret headed to the woods and started to search for John Doe. They walked for a while then Graham stopped and knelt down, "What is it?" asked Starla.
"The trail runs out here," he said.
"You sure?" asked Emma Because I thought tracking was one of your skills."
"Just give me a second," said Graham, "This is my world. I got it." Graham then went ahead.
"Right. Sorry."
"What does he mean, 'His world'?" asked Mary Margaret, "Isn't finding people your thing, too?"
"Sure. Just, people I find usually run to places like Vegas. Not a lot hit the woods."
"That's an interesting job – finding people," said Starla, "How'd you fall into it?"
"Looking for people is just what I've done," said Emma, "As long as I can remember."
"What made you start?" asked Mary Margaret, "Your parents? Henry told me that your… Th-that you were from a similar situation to his own. Did you ever find them?"
"Depends who you ask," said Emma. Just then they heard a crack behind them. They turned around and saw Henry running down a hill.
"Henry!" said Starla.
"Did you find him yet?" asked Henry.
"No, not yet," said Emma, "You shouldn't be here."
"I can help. I know where he's going."
"And where's that?" asked Mary Margaret.
Henry looked at Mary Margaret, "He's looking for you."
They started walking through the woods. It was getting dark, so they all had flashlights. Then, Henry said, "You're the one who woke him up. You're the last one he saw. He wants to find you!"
"Henry, it's not about me," said Mary Margaret, "I just… I think he's lost and confused. He's been in a coma a long time."
"But he loves you! You need to stop chasing him and let him find you."
"Kid. You need to go home. Where's your mom?" asked Emma, "She's going to kill me and then you… and then me again."
"She dropped me at the house," said Henry, "Then, went right out."
"Well, we need to get you back immediately."
"No!"
They heard Graham call. They caught up to him and he shown his flashlight on John Doe's hospital bracelet.
"Is that…" Starla started to ask.
"Blood," Emma finished.
They continued to search the woods. They followed the path to a stream that ran under a nearby bridge, "Where is he?" asked Starla, "Can you see him?"
"The trail dies at the water line," said Graham
They all moved their flashlights around the water's edge. Then, the light from Mary Margaret's light landed on John Doe lying in the water, "Oh my god! Oh my god! Oh my god!"
Graham pulled out his walkie talkie and said, "I need an ambulance! At the old Toll Bridge, as soon as possible." Emma, Starla, Graham and Mary Margaret drug John Doe onto the shore.
"No, no, no, no, no! No, no, no! I found you!" shouted Mary Margaret.
"It's going to be okay," said Starla.
"Help's coming," said Graham
"Is he okay?" asked Henry.
"Henry…," said Emma.
"Is he going to be okay?"
Emma went up to Henry. She hugged him and turned him away from what was going on, "Henry, don't look. Okay? Don't look."
"Come back to us," said Mary Margaret. Then she whispered, "Come back to me." She couldn't wait any longer. So, she started to do CPR. She pumped his chest a few times then breathed into his mouth. A few seconds later, he started to breath and coughed of water.
John Doe looked up at Mary Margaret and said, "You saved me."
"She did it," said Henry, "She did it! She woke him up."
"Yeah, kid. She did," said Emma looking a bit shocked.
"Thank you," said John.
"Who are you?" asked Mary Margaret.
"I don't know."
"It's okay. You're going to be okay." The group could hear the sirens of the ambulance.
They got to the hospital and John Doe was taken to an ER Room, "We got it from here," said Dr. Whale. Mary Margaret, Henry, Emma, Starla and Graham watched through a glass door as John was being treated.
Just then, a blond haired woman rushed in and burst into the room, "David! David is that you?" asked the woman.
"Excuse me, ma'am?" said Dr. Whale.
"Oh my god…"
"Ma'am, you can't be in here. Please, you can't be here right now."
"David…"
"You can't be here, ma'am. Can you wait over here for a second, okay?" the woman stepped to the side.
"Who is that?" asked Starla.
"His wife," said Regina's voice. The group turned and saw her standing there behind them, "His name is David Nolan. And that's his wife, Kathryn. And the joy on her face, well, it's put me in quite the forgiving mood," she said as she looked at Emma and Travis. Regina then looked at Henry, "We'll talk about your insubordination later. Do you know what insubordination means?" he shook his head, "It means you're grounded."
Just then Kathryn waked out of the room, "Thank you. Thank you for finding my David."
"Um, I-I don't understand," said Mary Margaret, "You didn't…you didn't know that he was here in a coma?"
"A few years ago, David and I were not getting along. It was my fault, I know that now. I was difficult and unsupportive. I told him if he didn't like things, he could leave. And he did. And I didn't stop him. It was the worst mistake I ever made."
"You didn't go look for him?" asked Emma.
"I assumed he'd left town all this time," said Kathryn, "And now I know why I never heard from him. Now I get to do what I've wanted to do forever – say I'm sorry. Now we get a second chance."
"That's wonderful," said Mary Margaret.
Dr. Whale walked out of the room and said, "Well, it's something of a miracle."
"He's okay?" asked Kathryn.
"Ah, physically, he's on the mend, um, his memory is another issue. It may take time, if at all."
"What brought him back?" asked Mary Margaret.
"That's the thing," said Dr. Whale, "There's no explanation. Something just clicked in him."
"He just got up and decided to go for a stroll?" asked Emma.
"He woke up and he was delirious, and his first instinct was to go find something, I guess."
"Someone," said Henry.
"Can I see him?" asked Kathryn.
"Yeah, of course," said Dr. Whale as he escorted her into the room.
"Henry, let's go," said Regina.
Henry got up and started to follow her then he said, "Wait, my backpack." He grabbed his backpack then went up to Mary Margaret, "Don't believe them. You're the one he was looking for."
"Henry…" she said.
"He was going to the Troll Bridge. It's like the end of the story."
"Henry, he was going there because it's the last thing I read to him."
"No, it's because you belong together."
"Henry," called Regina. Then she went up to him and they left.
A few moments later, Emma followed them. Starla looked as David and Kathryn hugged in his room. Something about this just didn't seem right to her. She turned and saw Mary Margaret playing with the ring she always wore. Starla put her hand around her friend's shoulder in comfort and they left.
AN: If you like this story, Favorite and Follow. Also, give me a Review and let me know what you think of this. It gives me motivation to keep going.
