Reset

Before he had a chance to answer Emma pulled him awkwardly into a big hug despite the fact he still straddled his bike, “you ran through two red lights and you weren’t even looking,” Emma admonished him while holding him close before pulling herself away and kneeling in front of him.

She stared at him, willing him, begging him to listen and understand what she was about to say, “Henry, you need to be careful, you understand? You can’t go riding your bike down the street like that, you could get hurt or.. worse.. and I can’t lose you, do you understand? You need to be safe, okay?”

Henry nodded, “I’m sorry,” he mumbled emotionally and Emma quickly stood up and pulled him into another tight hug.

She stood up and looked around the empty street, Henry had breezed right through main town and was now in the quieter end of the town, “take your bike home and we’ll go to Granny’s for lunch okay?”

“Really?” Henry smiled happily and Emma realised it was a while since they had done anything like that.

“Really, ride home, on the sidewalk, slowly, carefully,” she told him with a glare, “I need to do a couple of things, I’ll.. I’ll meet you there, okay?”

“Okay,” he smiled and looked up and down the street before turning around and cycling back up the road towards town.

Emma watched him leave and when she was sure he wasn’t going to turn and look at her she quickly walked down a nearby alleyway and leant heavily against the wall as frightened tears fell heavily down her cheeks. She could feel her heart beating out of her chest and her body was shaking and she knew she was having a panic attack, she attempted to control her breathing but she was too far gone and she slid harshly down the dirty brick wall until she was sat with her knees around her chest. She was sweating a cold sweat in the chilly air and looked to the side to check no one was around.

With as deep a breath as she could take in she hugged her knees and waited for the now-common attack to subside.

Chapter 28

That evening Emma sat in the Sheriff’s office checking through the reports her deputies had submitted, she’d already checked them before but she had an urge to check them again.

The phone on the desk rang and Emma quickly answered it, “Sheriff’s Department.”

“Miss Swan,” Regina drawled down the phone and Emma couldn’t help but smile, “there’s another damn intruder in my garden.”

“Oh really?” Emma laughed, “why don’t you zap them with a fireball?”

“I wouldn’t want to singe my azaleas,” Regina remarked.

“Is that a euphemism?” Emma breathed sexily down the phone for a joke.

“Just get over here, maybe you could actually have a cup of tea this time rather than falling unconscious on my furniture,” Regina commanded but it lacked any bite.

“I can’t really spend tax payer’s money sipping tea with you,” Emma sighed, she’d decided that, as nice as it had been, she couldn’t go down this road with Regina. She couldn’t risk showing weakness to the woman, no matter how kind she had been. Emma feared losing the loose control she had over her emotions and she was terrified that if she started to let go she wouldn’t ever be able to be whole again.

“Grace misses you,” Regina announced, “she’s been speaking of nothing else all day.”

“Oh really?” Emma was enjoying the banter, “she’s advanced for a five month old.”

“Nearly six now,” Regina said, “and of course she’s advanced, she’s my daughter.”

“So modest,” Emma chuckled.

“That intruder is getting closer to the house,” Regina said with boredom, “they look terrifically frightening.”

“Oh yes?” Emma leaned back in her chair and put her feet up on the desk.

“Yes, big teeth,” Regina said.

“Aww, they’re smiling at you?” Emma asked.

“No, I think they intend to eat Grace,” Regina commented, “I’m surprised you’re not taking this more seriously. There is a cannibal in my garden and you’re making jokes.”

“Throw a leg of lamb out there, that will keep it going for a while,” Emma suggested playfully.

“It’s in the freezer,” Regina returned.

“Well then, throw that at it and it will knock it out,” Emma laughed.

“I’ve got a terrible aim,” Regina sighed.

“Are you admitting to be bad at something?” Emma quipped.

“Yes, throwing frozen legs of lamb at cannibals, it’s my Achilles heel,” Regina said dryly.

“Wish I’d known that my first couple of weeks in town,” Emma laughed.

“Oh, you’ve defeated me now, dear,” Regina chuckled, “now I’ll tell you all my secrets.”

Emma’s breath hitched as she detected the truth in Regina’s light tone, “so, erm, how’s the cannibal getting on?”

“Gnawing at the back door handle, shouldn’t you be speeding around here with sirens and screeching tyres?” Regina questioned.

“I can’t, Regina,” Emma breathed, “I have work to do..”

“Very well,” Regina replied softly, “those Storybrooke tax payers are lucky to have such a dedicated Sheriff.”

Emma smiled, “goodnight, Regina.”

“Goodnight, Emma,” Regina’s voice was soft and Emma held the phone to her ear long enough to hear the disconnection tone and then replaced the receiver and sighed.